© 2022 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry Mater. Adv. Cite this: DOI: 10.1039/d1ma01071a Magnetic nanocarriers adorned on graphene: promising contrast-enhancing agents with state-of-the-art performance in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and theranostics Shikha Gulati, * a Mansi, a Sneha Vijayan, a Sanjay Kumar, a Varnika Agarwal, b Bharath Harikumar a and Rajender S. Varma * c Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an effectual imaging technique for medical diagnosis, its non-invasive nature being a noteworthy attribute, in which magnetic contrast agents are employed to improve sensitivity and accuracy. Graphene exhibits excellent mechanical and physicochemical properties, and notable biocompatibility. In the quest for superior contrast agents with low toxicity, improved chemical stability, and remarkable functionalization potential, graphene-based magnetic nanocarriers have piqued the interest of researchers. Graphene and its derivatives function as nanocarriers or platforms onto which magnetic nanoparticles are anchored, due to its high specific surface area which prevents the uncontrolled aggregation of nanoparticles and thus provides extra stability while significantly increasing the MRI efficiency. Herein, the recent trends in the application of graphene-based magnetic nanocarriers as potential contrast agents in MRI are deliberated with detailed discussion on the methods of preparation, classification, and significant features, including theranostic applications. The cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of magnetic nanocarrier adorned graphene are also analyzed and highlighted along with their future outlook. 1. Introduction Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most com- monly used imaging techniques in diagnostics, with a broad spectrum of biomedical applications including high-quality 3D a Department of Chemistry, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110021, India. E-mail: shikha2gulati@gmail.com b Department of Materials, University of Oxford, UK c Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacky ´ University in Olomouc, S ˇ lechtitelu ˚ 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic. E-mail: Varma.Rajender@epa.gov Shikha Gulati Dr Shikha Gulati (MSc, PhD) is working as an assistant professor of chemistry at Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi. She has expertise in inorganic chemis- try, nano-materials, green chemis- try, catalysis, and analytical chemistry. Dr Shikha has authored several research papers in reputable international journals and written numerous books as well as chapters in diverse books which attest to her research aptitude, and good writing skills. Her books are referred to in many Universities across India for different undergraduate courses. Dr Gulati has also been awarded the Young Researcher Award 2020 for her work in the field of nanotechnology. Mansi Mansi was born in Haryana, India, in 2002. Currently, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi. She aspires to pursue research in the field of medicinal chemistry. Her research interests also include synthesis and applications of nanomaterials, green chemistry, drug synthesis, and theranostics. Received 14th November 2021, Accepted 14th February 2022 DOI: 10.1039/d1ma01071a rsc.li/materials-advances Materials Advances REVIEW Open Access Article. Published on 14 February 2022. Downloaded on 3/3/2022 12:19:14 PM. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence. View Article Online View Journal