The reporter learned from Hunan University that the team of Professor Song Guosheng and Professor Zhang Xiaobing from the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biosensors and Metrology of the university have made a series of important progress in magnetic resonance imaging research, and many important achievements have been published continuously in the journal Nature. We have conducted in-depth research on the characteristics of tumor progression, combined with tumor features and special biochemical substances produced during tumor treatment, and developed a series of novel molecular probes to further explore the mechanism of biological molecules in the occurrence and development of diseases Song Guosheng told a reporter from Science and Technology Daily. With the assistance of new molecular probes, magnetic resonance imaging of tumor blood flow, cell apoptosis, and immune response is more accurate, which will help doctors adjust treatment plans in real time during the treatment process, improve efficacy, and reduce side effects. Breaking the molecular limitations of magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance imaging is a molecular imaging technique that can provide high-resolution physiological structure images without invasive procedures. Meanwhile, magnetic resonance imaging has strong tissue penetration and soft tissue imaging capabilities, and has unique advantages in imaging tissues such as the brain, spinal cord, muscles, liver, and heart. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging can provide both anatomical and functional images simultaneously. These characteristics make it widely used in clinical medicine. However, traditional magnetic resonance imaging still has limitations in molecular level specific detection - when faced with early small lesions or specific molecular markers, conventional imaging often struggles to achieve accurate identification. Song Guosheng told reporters that in order to observe specific tissues or lesions such as tumors more accurately and clearly, a special tool - magnetic resonance molecular probe - has emerged and is widely used in biomedical research. After being injected into the organism, this molecular probe will accurately locate the target, such as tumor cells or inflammatory areas, and remain in these areas, making them brighter or darker in magnetic resonance imaging images, thereby making the lesion area easier to identify. Song Guosheng said, "This can directly observe molecular activities related to diseases, which is of great significance for early diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of diseases." For example, molecular probes can detect molecular markers related to tumor development in the tumor microenvironment, helping to achieve early diagnosis of tumors and the development of personalized treatment plans. They can also monitor changes in tumor size and morphology in real time, and evaluate the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Further improving the accuracy of molecular probes, although magnetic resonance imaging has broad prospects in clinical applications. Zhang Xiaobing told reporters that the current molecular probe design and development cycle is relatively long, and its sensitivity is often difficult to meet clinical needs. Developing more efficient molecular probes using multimodal imaging technology has become a hot and difficult topic in industry research. The research team at Hunan University has developed a series of novel molecular probes by conducting in-depth research on the characteristics of tumor progression, combined with tumor features and special biochemical substances produced during tumor treatment. They used superparamagnetic nanoparticles as signal centers to construct molecular probes activated by nitric oxide, an important signaling molecule. This type of probe utilizes the cleavage reaction sites of nitric oxide to regulate the magnetic susceptibility of magnetic nanoparticles, effectively improving the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging for detecting nitric oxide in vivo. We can use it to monitor real-time changes in nitric oxide content in mouse tumor models during immunotherapy, achieve early evaluation of immunotherapy effects, and provide technical support for personalized treatment, "said Song Guosheng. The team has designed a multimodal molecular probe that combines magnetic resonance imaging with other imaging techniques such as optical imaging and magnetic particle imaging, further expanding the clinical application scope of magnetic resonance imaging and having stronger advantages in the diagnosis and monitoring of complex diseases. For example, by combining long afterglow optical imaging with magnetic resonance imaging, the team significantly improved the accuracy of imaging by utilizing the high sensitivity of optical imaging and the tissue penetration power of magnetic resonance imaging. Song Guosheng stated that this dual-mode imaging can accurately monitor the biological molecular changes of mouse tumors after radiotherapy, thereby predicting the efficacy of radiotherapy earlier and providing support for precise adjustment of radiotherapy dose. This not only helps to improve the effectiveness of tumor treatment, but also effectively reduces treatment side effects. (New Press)