ferumoxsil

Ferumoxsil is a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticle formulation that was developed as an oral contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the gastrointestinal tract. It consists of siloxane-coated iron oxide particles (approximately 10 nm in core size) suspended in a viscous aqueous medium containing starch and cellulose. As a negative contrast agent, it functions by shortening T2 relaxation times, which results in a signal loss (darkening) of the bowel lumen, thereby enhancing the contrast between the gastrointestinal tract and adjacent organs or lesions. Developed by Advanced Magnetics (now AMAG Pharmaceuticals), it was approved by the FDA in 1996 under the brand name GastroMARK but has since been discontinued and withdrawn from the U.S. market.

Brand names

GastroMARKLumirem

Other names

ferumoxsilsiloxane-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide