Fluorinated dendrimers as imaging agents for ¹⁹F MRI

¹⁹F is the second most sensitive stable nucleus for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Because there is no endogenous ¹⁹F signal, ¹⁹F MRI is much more suited for quantification and tracking than ¹H MRI. However, ¹⁹F MRI is not in clinical use because in spite of more than three decades of research, there are no approved ¹⁹F imaging agents. New approaches and new methodologies are needed to move the field forward. Water-soluble fluorinated dendrimers present a promising alternative to conventional perfluorocarbon emulsions. This article outlines recent development of fluorinated dendrimers as ¹⁹F imaging agents. This is not meant to be a comprehensive review of ¹⁹F imaging agents, for which there is an excellent recent review by Knight et al. Rather, the article aims to give an insider's account on research efforts in this exciting and challenging field.