Zeolite-enclosed transistion and rare earth metal ions as contrast agents for the gastrointestinal tract
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsKenneth J. Balkus, Jr., A. Dean Sherry, Stuart W. Young
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method of using zeolite enclosed paramagnetic ions as image brightening or image contrast agents. In particular, zeolite enclosed trivalent gadolinium is useful in MRI studies of the entire gastrointestinal tract, providing excellent images. Zeolite-enclosed gadolinium complexes may be conveniently administered in oral preparations without side effects of diarrhea. Other transition metal ions, including divalent manganese may be enclosed in any suitable zeolite which has ion exchange properties sufficient to exchange the selected metal.
Claims27
An imaging method comprising administering to an animal an amount of zeolite-enclosed paramagnetic ion, said amount being effective as a contrast or image-brightening agent.
A method for gastrointestinal tract imaging comprising orally administering a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation comprising zeolite enclosed trivalent gadolinium and detecting the gadolinium by magnetic resonance imaging.
A method for gastrointestinal tract imaging comprising orally administering a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation comprising zeolite enclosed divalent manganese and detecting the manganese by magnetic resonance imaging.
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a zeolite-enclosed paramagnetic ion and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier selected from the group consisting of a non-aqueous suspending liquid, a powder or an absorbing matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.