Activity estimation in radioimmunotherapy using magnetic nanoparticles.
OBJECTIVE
Estimation of activity accumulated in tumor and organs is very important in predicting the response of radiopharmaceuticals treatment. In this study, we synthesized (177)Lutetium ((177)Lu)-trastuzumab-iron oxide nanoparticles as a double radiopharmaceutical agent for treatment and better estimation of organ activity in a new way by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
(177)Lu-trastuzumab-iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized and all the quality control tests such as labeling yield, nanoparticle size determination, stability in buffer and blood serum up to 4 d, immunoreactivity and biodistribution in normal mice were determined. In mice bearing breast tumor, liver and tumor activities were calculated with three methods: single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), MRI and organ extraction, which were compared with each other.


RESULTS
The good results of quality control tests (labeling yield: 61%±2%, mean nanoparticle hydrodynamic size: 41±15 nm, stability in buffer: 86%±5%, stability in blood serum: 80%±3%, immunoreactivity: 80%±2%) indicated that (177)Lu-trastuzumab-iron oxide nanoparticles could be used as a double radiopharmaceutical agent in mice bearing tumor. Results showed that (177)Lu-trastuzumab-iron oxide nanoparticles with MRI had the ability to measure organ activities more accurate than SPECT.


CONCLUSIONS
Co-conjugating radiopharmaceutical to MRI contrast agents such as iron oxide nanoparticles may be a good way for better dosimetry in nuclear medicine treatment.
1 Department of Radioisotope, Nuclear science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran 14115-331, Iran ; 2 Department of Medical Physics, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 14115-331, Iran.
Samira
S
Rasaneh
1 Department of Radioisotope, Nuclear science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran 14115-331, Iran ; 2 Department of Medical Physics, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 14115-331, Iran.
Hossein
H
Rajabi
1 Department of Radioisotope, Nuclear science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran 14115-331, Iran ; 2 Department of Medical Physics, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 14115-331, Iran.
Fariba
F
Johari Daha
Radioimmunotherapy (RIT); activity estimation; herceptin; lutetium-177; magnetic nanoparticles; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)