Short name: CEIV-7, central moiety: Gd
A paramagnetic chelate with capabilities as a multipurpose T1-relaxivity necrosis avid MRI contrast agent.

See also Necrosis Avid Contrast Agent.

A chelate is a heterocyclic chemical compound whose molecules consist of a metal ion attached by coordinate bonds to at least two nonmetal ions. The parent organic compound is known as a chelating agent - for example, DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) used in contrast agents. Chelates are used in analytical chemistry, in agriculture as carriers of essential trace metals, in water softening, and to remove an excess of iron, which may build up to toxic levels in the body. Metalloproteins may influence the performance of enzymes or provide a mechanism for the storage of iron in the spleen and plasma of the human body.
Paramagnetic metal ions such as gadolinium improve the MRI signal, but the toxicity of these uncomplexed metal ions makes the use of a chelate to bind the metal ion essential. The chelated metal ion could be safely excreted.

(Cr(III)-labeled RBC's) Chromium labeled red blood cells have paramagnetic properties and potential as an intravascular MRI contrast agent. The labeling with chromium decreases the relaxation times of packed red blood cells (RBCs). The use of RBCs in nuclear medicine suggests a low toxicity.

See also Contrast Agents, Intravascular Contrast Agents, Blood Pool Agents.

An iron-based contrast agent with large molecular size, which prevents diffusion into body tissues and will be developed for MR imaging of the liver (taken up by macrophages), tumor microvasculature and microvessel permeability. The blood half live of the particles with 11-20 nm diameter is 3-4 hours.
At this time the development of Clariscan™ is discontinued.

See also NC100150 Injection and Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide.

Combidex® is the brand name (same as Sinerem®) for an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) in the development pipeline to detect metastatic disease in lymph nodes. Metastatic lymph nodes show less uptake of this MRI contrast agent, which results in less signal decrease and allows the differentiation of normal lymph nodes from normal-sized, metastatic nodes. Combidex® has also potential to be used as a functional molecular imaging agent.
In March 2005, AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc received an approvable letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with respect to Combidex subject to certain conditions.
See also Ferumoxtran, Drug Development and Approval Process USA, Molecular Imaging and Classifications, Characteristics, etc.