. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Aug 1.

Published in final edited form as: Phys Med. 2021 Jul 17;88:175–192. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2021.07.005

Table 2.

Examples of commercially available contrast agents for micro-CT.

Contrast Agent	Contrast Element	Characteristics

Bracco Imaging, Iopamidol (Isovue-370)	Iodine	- Small molecular weight contrast agent used in humans - Rapidly excreted by the kidneys - Can be used for perfusion micro-CT or to study kidneys
MediLumine, Fenestra LC/VC	Iodine	- Lipid emulsion containing an iodine-based compound - VC is for vascular contrast, LC is for liver contrast - Used for in vivo preclinical imaging
Binitio Biomedical, eXIA 160, eXIA 160XL	Iodine	- Aqueous, colloidal, poly-disperse contrast agents behaving initially as blood pool contrast agents - Subsequently taken up by the myocardium and other metabolically active tissues over time [9] - Metabolized by catabolic pathways in the body thus enabling metabolic imaging of the myocardium and brown adipose tissue - Used for in vivo preclinical imaging
Miltenyibiotec, ExiTron nano 6000,12000	Barium	- Nanoparticle-based blood pool contrast agents - Accumulates over time, particularly in the liver and spleen - Used for in vivo preclinical imaging
Nanoprobes, Aurovist 15	Gold	- Nanoparticle-based blood pool contrast agent - Accumulates over time, particularly in the liver and spleen - Used for in vivo preclinical imaging
Scarletimaging, BriteVu	Barium	It is used only for ex vivo studies as an intravascular agent to cast the cardiovascular system down to the capillary level.