SPIONs - Improving Image Quality in Ultralow-field MRI

Read about the study in Science Advances:
advances.scien...
"High-sensitivity in vivo contrast for ultralow-field
magnetic resonance imaging using superparamagnetic
iron oxide nanoparticles"
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Sydney have identified the missing piece needed for lower-cost, high-quality MRI scans. These machines can be used in many different scenarios that a normal MRI can’t.
The trade-off for low-field MRI is image quality. While these portable scanners can be used to diagnose many conditions, the images aren’t as detailed as a standard MRI scan.
To improve image quality, physicists David Waddington and Zdenka Kuncic suggested a new technique for imaging using injectable contrast agents with low-field MRI.
In the study, healthy lab rats were scanned using physicist Matt Rosen’s custom-made ultra-low field MRI. Once scanned, they were injected with SPIONs, and re- scanned.
A comparison of pre- and post-injection images showed a striking improvement in image quality.