Abstract A carrier is disclosed for diagnostic scanning agents labelled with short-lived radioisotopes for medical organ studies which comprises colloidally dispersed phospholipid material, and also disclosed are new diagnostic scanning agents utilizing the carrier and a radioisotope, preferably 99m Tc, which is in a form which complexes with the carrier. The radioisotope labelling can be carried out directly before use, the carrier in dispersed form being stable for a considerable period of time. Methods of preparation of the scanning agents are also disclosed which provide a material which localizes mainly in the liver after injection, or alternately at least initially in the lungs when an aggregating agent is used during preparation in a specific sequence of steps. Specific organ scans or sequential scanning is thus possible.
A kit for the preparation of medical scanning agents labelled with short-lived radioisotope 99m Tc for use in conjunction with a source of radioisotope yielding pertechnetate anion which comprises as components: 1. an aqueous colloidal dispersion of phospholipid material having a predetermined particle size so as to localize at preselected organs after injection; 2. a concentrated reducing agent for obtaining 99m Tc in multivalent cationic form from 99m TcO 4 - ; and 3. a buffering agent; and means to keep said components separate from one another until use.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A kit for the preparation of medical scanning agents labelled with short-lived radioisotope 99m Tc for use in conjunction with a source of radioisotope yielding pertechnetate anion which comprises as components: 1. an aqueous colloidal dispersion of phospholipid material having a predetermined particle size so as to localize at preselected organs after injection; 2. a concentrated reducing agent for obtaining 99m Tc in multivalent cationic form from 99m TcO 4 - ; and 3. a buffering agent; and means to keep said components separate from one another until use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The kit of claim 1 further including as a separate unit a reagent in aqueous solution for eluting 99m TcO 4 - from a 99 Mo generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The kit of claim 2 further including as a separate unit a neutralization reagent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The kit of claim 1 further including as a separate unit a divalent metal cation aggregating agent in aqueous solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The kit of claim 2 wherein the reagent for elution is dilute hydrochloric acid and the reducing agent is concentrated hydrochloric acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The kit of claim 4 wherein the aggregating agent is calcium chloride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The kit of claim 1 wherein the phospholipid material has a particle size of about 21 ± 5nm and in a concentration of 10-100 mg/ml.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The kit of claim 4 wherein the aggregating agent is in a concentration such as will provide concentration of 100-400 mM in the final scanning agent.