Aurovist - 15 nm (1115-GRP)

AuroVist™1 is a novel nanotechnology contrast agent based on gold nanoparticles, the first of its kind to be commercially available. AuroVist™ enables greatly enhanced X-ray imaging of blood vessels, tumors, and other biological systems and organs. AuroVist™-15 nm consists of gold nanoparticles with a core diameter of 15 nm, stabilized with a highly water soluble organic shell. This makes them useable at high concentrations (up to at least 200 mg Au/cc) and well tolerated by animals even at high concentrations (LD50 > 5 g Au/kg). Some of the significant unique features and advantages of AuroVist™-15 nm include:

• Longer blood residence time than iodine agents (~15 hr blood half-life).
• High Contrast (>1,000 HU initial blood contrast; 40 mg in a 20g mouse).
• Does not clear through kidneys (for kidney imaging use AuroVist™-1.9nm, #1102).
• Low toxicity (LD50> 5 g Au/kg).
• Can achieve higher contrast than standard iodine agents (Gold absorbs ~3 times more than an equal weight of iodine at 20 and 100 keV).
• Low osmolality, even at high concentrations.
• Low viscosity, similar to water; easy to inject with minimal trauma, even into small blood vessels.
• Can be imaged using standard MicroCT, clinical CT, planar X-ray, or mammography.
• Enhances radiotherapy dose.2

It is particularly useful for MicroCT animal imaging, such as in vivo vascular casting,3 studies of tumors, stroke, atherosclerosis and other vascular conditions.

*not approved for human use.