Yttrium-86-labelled human serum albumin microspheres: relation of surface structure with in vivo stability

• Published in: Nuclear medicine and biology 2008-02, Vol.35 (2), p.227-232
• Main Authors: Schiller, Eik, Bergmann, Ralf, Pietzsch, Jens, Noll, Bernhard, Sterger, Antje, Johannsen, Bernd, Wunderlich, Gerd, Pietzsch, Hans-Jürgen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Albumins - chemistry; Albumins - pharmacokinetics; Animals; Chelating Agents - chemistry; Drug Stability; Heterocyclic Compounds - chemistry; Heterocyclic Compounds - pharmacokinetics; Human serum albumin microspheres; Humans; In vivo stability; Isotope Labeling - methods; Lung - blood supply; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung - metabolism; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Microspheres; Organometallic Compounds - chemistry; Organometallic Compounds - pharmacokinetics; Pentetic Acid; Plasma; Radiolabelled particles; Radiology; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals - pharmacokinetics; Radiotherapy; Rats; Surface Properties; Tissue Distribution; Yttrium Radioisotopes - chemistry; Yttrium Radioisotopes - pharmacokinetics; Yttrium-86
• ISSN: 0969-8051; 1872-9614
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2007.10.008

Abstract Introduction Radiolabelled particles are an attractive tool in the therapy of malignancies of the liver. We consider particles manufactured from denatured human serum albumin (HSA) as useful carriers of therapeutic radionuclides. Covalent attachment of suitable chelators onto the surface of the spheres promises an easy access to radiolabelled HSA microspheres. Methods We synthesized 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane- N , N ′, N ″, N ‴-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) bearing smooth, medium-rough and rough surfaced HSA microspheres (mean diameter: 25 μm). In vitro stability of86 Y-labelled particles was determined after incubation in human plasma and in a DTPA challenge experiment. In vivo stability of86 Y DOTA-HSA microspheres was determined after single intravenous application in rats. Subsequently, the particles were completely trapped in the lung microvasculature. Thus, the lung serves in our experiments as target organ. Results DOTA-HSA microspheres were86 Y labelled in reproducible high yields (>95%). No differences between smooth and rough surfaced spheres were found for both DOTA coupling and86 Y labelling. Labelled microspheres showed high in vitro stability in human plasma and in DTPA solution with only 8±1% and 2±0% loss of radioactivity from the surface, respectively, 48 h postinjection (pi). The three batches (smooth, medium-rough and rough surfaced microspheres) differed considerably in their radioactivity recovery in the lungs of rats 48 h pi. Smooth particles showed the highest in vivo stability of the radiolabel on the surface of the spheres, presumably because of slower proteolytic degradation. Conclusion We found that for the preparation of HSA-derived microspheres for radiotherapeutic application, smooth surfaced spheres are superior to rough spheres due to their higher in vivo stability of the radionuclide fixation.