Hepatocyte-selective oil-in-water emulsion

A heat stable oil-in-water emulsion comprising:

• a) up to 50% (w/v) of a lipophilic diagnostic agent selected from the group consisting of iodinated arylaliphatic triglyceride analogs having a 1,3-disubstituted triglyceride backbone with a 3-substituted 2,4,6-triiodophenyl aliphatic chain or a monoiodophenyl aliphatic chain;
• b) up to 10% (w/v) phospholipid emulsifier;
• c) up to about 5% (w/v) cholesterol;
• d) up to 5% (w/v) of a sodium-ion free osmolality adjusting agent;
• and
• e) the remainder being sterile water, the emulsion having a mean particle diameter of the oil phase between 50 to 200 nm with greater than 98% of the particles being less than 300 nm, and being able to withstand heat sterilization without a significant change in mean particle size distribution and without losing its ability to associate with apoprotein E so as to be hepatocyte-selective.

A heat stable oil-in-water emulsion comprising:

• a) up to 50% (w/v) of a lipophilic diagnostic agent selected from the group consisting ofiodinated arylaliphatic triglyceride analogs having a 1,2,3-trisubstituted triglyceride backbone with a 3-substituted 2,4,6-triiodophenyl aliphatic chain or a monoiodophenyl aliphatic chain;
• b) up to 10% (w/v) phospholipid emulsifier,
• c) up to about 5% (w/v) cholesterol;
• d) up to 5% (w/v) of a sodium-ion free osmolality adjusting agent;
• and
• e) the remainder being sterile water, the emulsion having a mean particle diameter of the oil phase between 50 to 200 nm with greater than 98% of the particles being less than 300 nm, and being able to withstand heat sterilization without a significant change in mean particle size distribution and without losing its ability to associated with apoprotein E so as to be hepatocyte-selective.