Abstract

We have compared the magnetic properties of various types of materials known to affect MR images. The materials compared were: (i) MR contrast agents based on chelates of paramagnetic metals (Gd-DTPA, Dy-DTPA); (ii) biological forms of iron (horse spleen ferritin and deoxyhemoglobin); and (iii) a superparamagnetic iron oxide (AMI-25). The properties compared were the magnetic susceptibility and the magnetization. The magnetization and susceptibility of superparamagnetic AMI-25 are far larger than that of ferritin or low molecular weight, paramagnetic chelates. Superparamagnetic iron oxide colloids, like AMI-25, are a uniquely powerful class of magnetic materials.