Contrast agents are chemical substances introduced to the anatomical or functional region being imaged, to increase the differences between different tissues or between normal and abnormal tissue, by altering the relaxation times. MRI contrast agents are classified by the different changes in relaxation times after their injection.
The design objectives for the next generation of MR contrast agents will likely focus on prolonging intravascular retention, improving tissue targeting, and accessing new contrast mechanisms. Macromolecular paramagnetic contrast agents are being tested worldwide. Preclinical data shows that these agents demonstrate great promise for improving the quality of MR angiography, and in quantificating capillary permeability and myocardial perfusion.
Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) particles have been evaluated in multicenter clinical trials for lymph node MR imaging and MR angiography, with the clinical impact under discussion. In addition, a wide variety of vector and carrier molecules, including antibodies, peptides, proteins, polysaccharides, liposomes, and cells have been developed to deliver magnetic labels to specific sites. Technical advances in MR imaging will further increase the efficacy and necessity of tissue-specific MRI contrast agents.

See also Adverse Reaction and Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis.

See also the related poll result: 'The development of contrast agents in MRI is'

A contrast medium (or contrast agent) is a chemical substance introduced to the anatomical or functional region being imaged, to increase the differences between different tissues or between normal and abnormal tissue, by altering the relaxation times.
The chemical composition of the contrast media determines the specific usage. Similar to nuclear imaging is the intention in development of MR contrast media a high affinity to different organs or even tumors (e.g. necrosis avid contrast agent).
In 'contrast' to nuclear imaging contrast agents MR contrast media do not contain radiopharmaceuticals and the concentrations are about 100 times higher. Nuclear imaging contrast agents are direct contrast agents;; they are directly visible caused by their radioactivity. MR contrast agents affect the targeted tissue; they are indirect contrast agents.
See also Contrast Agents, the info sheet gives an overview and more in-depth information about different types of MRI contrast medium.

A voxel that is uniform in all directions.

A rotation matrix is a matrix corresponding to a rotation of a vector around a certain axis. Used for example to describe the spins of nuclei.

An image postprocessing method to separate vessels from surrounding tissue.