Radiolabelling of Lipiodol with generator-produced 188Re for hepatic tumor therapy

In this study we prepared and analyzed the biodistribution of 188Re-labelled Lipiodol ([188Re]-Lipiodol) in rats after intrahepatic arterial injection. EDTB was synthesized by condensation of 1,2-benzenediamine and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The labelling efficiency of [188Re] Lipiodol was determined to be greater than 97% by ITLC developed with n-hexane. Following incubation of the [188Re] Lipiodol with an equal volume of serum at 37°C for 48 h, ITLC indicated good in vitro stability. Approximately 7.4 MBq [188Re] Lipiodol was injected in each rat via the hepatic artery and samples of liver, spleen, muscle, lung, kidney, bone, whole blood and testis were obtained. [188Re] Lipiodol tissue concentrations showed that after 1 h intrahepatic injection most of the radiotracer was retained in the liver, and was eliminated slowly with a biological half-life of 33.5 h. Radioactivity levels in the lung, kidney and blood were moderate at 1 h, and declined rapidly over time. In the spleen, muscle, testis and bone, radiation levels were insignificant. These initial results indicate that [188Re] Lipiodol may be a potential radiopharmaceutical agent for the treatment of liver tumors.