MAGNETIC STARCH MICROSPHERES, BIODISTRIBUTION AND BIOTRANSFORMATION - A NEW ORGAN-SPECIFIC CONTRAST AGENT FOR MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

The biodistribution and elimination of magnetic starch microspheres (MSM) were studied qualitatively and quantitatively by radioiron tracer studies and relaxation time measurements. One hour after injection of MSM (1 mg/kg of Fe), 85% ± 5% of the dose was accumulated in the liver and 6.5% ± 3 1% in the spleen. The hepatic clearance led to 50% reduction in the T2 relaxation time of liver tissue. This T2 effect was halved after 24 hours and T2 reversed to baseline value within 5 days after injection. The radioiron was gradually cleared from the liver with a t½ of 4 to 5 days. Six weeks after injection of MSM, 72% ± 7% of the radioiron dose was detected in the circulation in a nonsuperparamagnetic form associated with the erythrocytes. The results indicate a redistribution of iron from the liver and spleen via the erythroid bone marrow to the erythrocytes after injection of MSM. © Lippincott-Raven Publishers.