ferumoxtran-10

Ferumoxtran-10 is a synthetic ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticle coated with dextran. It functions as a molecular imaging agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), primarily used to enhance the differentiation of cancerous from non-cancerous lymph nodes and to visualize phagocytic components in various tissues. The agent accumulates in the reticuloendothelial system and is taken up by macrophages in normal or reactive lymphatic tissue, leading to decreased signal intensity on T2-weighted MRI images. In contrast, metastatic lymph nodes lacking macrophages do not take up the agent and thus retain their original signal intensity. Ferumoxtran-10 can also cross areas of blood-brain barrier disruption and be trapped by phagocytic cells such as astrocytes and macrophages within or around tumors or lesions. It has been investigated for use in body imaging, oncologic staging (especially lymph node evaluation), and brain tumor imaging[1][2][4][5][6][7].

Brand names

Combidex

Other names

ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxideUSPIOdextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles