Ultrafine lightly coated superparamagnetic particles for MRI
AssigneeNycomed Imaging AS
InventorsAnne Kjersti Fahlvik, Anne Nævestad, Helge Gundersen, Per Strande, Jo Klaveness, Anne Jacobsen
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Abstract
The invention relates to particulate contrast agents, especially contrast agents for MR imaging having a metal oxide core which is preferably superparamagnetic iron oxide. The particulate contrast agents are provided with a low coating density of a polyelectrolyte coating agent selected from structural polysaccharides and synthetic polymers, especially polyaminoacids. Unlike conventional coated particulates, the new particles have reduced or no effect on cardiovascular parameters, platelet depletion, complement activation and blood coagulation.
Claims15
A diagnostic agent comprising a composite particulate material the particles whereof comprise a diagnostically effective, substantially water-insoluble, metal oxide crystalline material and a polyionic coating agent, wherein said particles have a size of below 300 nm, said crystalline material has a crystal size of from 1 to 100 nm, the weight ratio of said crystalline material to said coating agent is in the range 1000:1 to 11:1, and said coating agent is selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic structural-type polysaccharides, synthetic polyaminoacids, physiologically tolerable synthetic polymers and derivatives thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.