Ultrasmall Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents in Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Publisher



Amraee A¹ ; Khoei S^{1, 2} ; Mahdavi SR³ ; Tohidkia MR⁴ ; Tarighatnia A^{4, 5} ; Darvish L⁶ ; Hosseini Teshnizi S⁷ ; Aghanejad A^{4, 8} Show Affiliations
Source: Clinical and Translational Imaging Published:2023

Abstract

Background: A comparison between the ultra-small iron oxide nanoparticles (US-IO) and commercial gadolinium-based contrast agents (Dotarem) as positive contrast agents for T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been performed in existing studies. Methods: Correlated articles searched in PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, International Medical Sciences, Scopus, Google Scholar, Index Copernicus, EBSCO-CINAHL, DOAJ, and Persian databases containing Magiran and SID. Two external viewers determined the risk of bias independently using Syrcle’s rob tool score. The two groups applied 95% confidence interval (CI) and the standardized mean difference (SMD) to compare r1 and r2/r1. Results: Random-effects meta-analysis of these four studies presented that US-IO NPs versus Dotarem)Gd-DTPA(has more r2/r1 but statistically is not significant (MSD = − 1.08; 95% CI − 6.44 to 0.28; p = 0.07). The nine studies of random-effects meta-analysis showed that US-IO versus Gd-DTPA significantly has more r1 (MSD = − 5.56; 95% CI − 8.61 to − 2.52; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Statistical studies confirmed that US-IO nanoparticles with a size of less than 5 nm in positive contrast MRI had higher r1 and approximately similar r2/r1 in different studies, as well as better than the Dotarem in increasing signal intensity. Therefore, US-IO NPs could be a hopeful candidate for use as T1-weighted contrast agents in MRI. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.