公开(公告)号：EP0381742A4

公开(公告)日：1991-04-24

申请号：EP89909342

申请日：1989-08-03

Applicant: ADVANCED MAGNETICS INCORPORATED

Inventor： MENZ, EDWARD, T. ,  ROTHENBERG, JEFFREY, M. ,  GROMAN, ERNEST, V. ,  JOSEPHSON, LEE

IPC: A61B5/055 ,  A61K31/70 ,  A61K33/24 ,  A61K49/00 ,  A61K49/12 ,  A61K49/18 ,  A61K51/00 ,  A61K51/06 ,  C08G18/18 ,  C08G18/20 ,  C08G18/24 ,  C08G18/26 ,  C08J9/14 ,  G01R33/28 ,  A61B6/00 ,  G01N24/00

CPC classification number: G01R33/5601 ,  A61K49/085 ,  A61K49/12 ,  A61K49/18 ,  A61K49/1845 ,  A61K49/1848 ,  A61K49/1863 ,  A61K49/1866 ,  A61K49/1869 ,  A61K51/06 ,  A61K2123/00 ,  C08G18/1808 ,  C08G18/1816 ,  C08G18/1825 ,  C08G18/2036 ,  C08G18/246 ,  C08G18/26 ,  C08G2101/00 ,  C08J9/144 ,  C08J2375/04

Abstract: Magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents are described whose in vivo biodistribution is based upon the ability of certain cells to recognize and internalize the MR contrast agents of the present invention, via receptor mediated endocytosis. The RME-type MR contrast agents are comprised of biodegradable superparamagnetic metal oxides associated with macromolecular species including serum proteins, hormones, asialoglycoproteins, galactose-terminal species, polysaccharides, arabinogalactan, or conjugates of these molecules with other polymeric substances such as a poly(organosilane) and dextran. An MR contrast agent prepared from biodegradable superparamagnetic iron oxide and asialofetuin, for example, arabinogalactan, is selectively localized in the hepatocytes of the liver with no significant accumulation in the spleen. The contrast agents provide an enhanced MR image and valuable information regarding the functional or metabolic state of the organ or tissue under examination.