Patent ID: 8734761

Claim:
The MRI contrast agent, comprising: a carrier selected from the group consisting of liposomes, particles, and micelles, wherein the carrier includes a linking molecule comprising a phosphatidylcholine derivative; a plurality of CEST-active paramagnetic complexes linked to the carrier and including at least one exchangeable entity for enabling CEST; wherein at least one of the plurality of CEST-active paramagnetic complexes is covalently attached to the carrier via a nitrogen atom of the linking molecule, the linking molecule including an “R” group moiety covalently bonded to the nitrogen atom and a phosphate head group of the linking molecule, the “R” group moeity selected from the group consisting of: CH 2 (OCH 2 CH 2 ) n , and CH 2 (OCH 2 CH 2 ) n CONHCH 2 CH 2 .