University of Birmingham scientists develop new MRI contrast agent
Charlie Blackie-Kelly | November 12, 2025 | News story | Research and Development | Diagnostics, MRI, University of Birmingham, medical imaging
Researchers at the University of Birmingham, UK, have developed a new class of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents that could enable safer and more effective diagnostic imaging.
Led by Professor Anna Peacock, Professor of Bioinorganic Chemistry at the University’s School of Chemistry, the team has created a novel covalent cross-linking strategy for reinforced metallo coiled coils – a protein-based structure previously recognised for its potential in MRI applications but limited by poor stability.
These newly engineered coils bind to gadolinium, the metal widely used in existing MRI contrast agents, offering a novel approach designed to enhance both efficacy and safety.
The research, conducted in collaboration with scientists from the University of Bristol and Università del Piemonte Orientale in Italy, was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
In laboratory testing, the cross-linked agent demonstrated a 30% increase in MRI relaxivity compared with non-cross-linked counterparts, suggesting potential for improved image clarity at clinically relevant magnetic field strengths. The team also reported enhanced chemical and biological stability, addressing a key limitation of earlier designs.
Further evaluation in Seronorm, a human serum matrix used to model biological conditions, showed that the agents maintained their bio-inertness and structural resilience, supporting the feasibility of future in vivo use.
Professor Anna Peacock commented: “By locking metal-binding peptides into place with molecular cross-links, we’ve engineered MRI contrast agents that are not only more stable but also deliver a further 30% improvement in effectiveness compared to their non-crosslinked counterparts. The modular nature of these designs paves the way for safer, smarter imaging in clinical diagnostics.”
Related Content
InnotiveDx gets £1m grant to advance UTI diagnostics system
InnotiveDx has announced that it has received a £1m grant from Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical …
Esaote presents new MRI system to support brain glioma surgeries
Gliomas are among the most common primary malignant brain tumours
Inbiome’s rapid diagnostic platform approved for EU use, cuts infection identification time to just five hours
Dutch diagnostics firm Inbiome has received In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) certification from the EU …
