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Abstract

The preparation and isolation of biodegradable superparamagnetic MR imaging contrast agents for the vascular compartment is described. These aggregates are comprised of individual biodegradable superparamagnetic metal oxide crystals which aggregates have an overall mean diameter less than about 4000 angstroms. The preferred vascular imaging contrast agent is comprised of aggregates of iron oxide crystals having an overall mean diameter less than about 500 angstroms. These contrast agents may be associated with a macromolecular species, which assist, among other things, in the preparation of these extremely small materials, and may be dispersed or dissolved in a physiologically acceptable medium. Preferred media also stabilize the materials against further aggregation even under harsh sterilization conditions. The autoclaved biodegradable superparamagnetic iron oxides of the invention are ideally suited for a pharmaceutical preparation and enjoy several advantages over prior intravascular imaging contrast media including low osmolality, low effective dose requirements, high relaxivities, long blood lifetimes, rapid biodegradability, and versatility with respect to a wide range of applicable MR data acquisition parameters.

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First Claim