SH U 555 C

SH U 555 C (Supravist) is an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticle contrast agent developed by Schering AG (now Bayer) for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It consists of iron oxide nanoparticles with a carboxydextran coating, designed to have a smaller particle size than its predecessor SH U 555 A (Resovist). Unlike conventional gadolinium-based contrast agents that primarily detect blood-brain barrier breakdown, SH U 555 C is phagocytosed by circulating monocytes and macrophages. These labeled cells then migrate into the central nervous system, enabling the MRI visualization of cellular-level inflammation and macrophage infiltration. The agent has been investigated in Phase 2 clinical imaging studies for multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to characterize pathology and compare USPIO enhancement patterns with conventional MRI metrics.

Brand names

Supravist

Other names

ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxideUSPIOcarboxydextran-coated USPIO