Large-scale synthesis of non-ionic bismuth chelate for computed tomography imaging in vivo.

High atomic number elements-based X-ray computed tomography (CT) contrast agents offer a promising solution to address the inherent deficiencies of FDA-approved iodine contrast agents. However, they face substantial challenges in balancing imaging performance, safety, and large-scale production for clinical translation. Herein, inspired by the history of clinical gadolinium- and iodine-based contrast agents, we report a large-scale approach for synthesizing non-ionic bismuth (Bi) chelate for high-performance CT imaging in vivo.