TC-99M-LABELED DIPHYTANOYLPHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE LIPOSOMES - IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO STUDIES

The uniquely structured diphytanoylphosphatidylcholine (DphPC) forms l iposomes more stable than conventional straight chain phospholipids. I n this study DphPC and pegylated DphPC (DphPC-PEG) liposomes were radi olabelled and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. (99)mTc-DphPC liposomes were found to be nontoxic to human white blood cells in vitro. In addi tion Tc-99m labelled DphPC-PEG liposomes were evaluated as a nonspecif ic infection imaging agent in a mouse model. Infection sites were imag ed within 30 min postinjection, and the radiopharmaceutical exhibited a remarkable in vivo stability. As their biodistribution and pharmacok inetic patterns can be size-modulated, DphPC-based lipsomes are excell ent candidates for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.