Synthesis, Modification and Radiolabeling of Chitosan particles and its’ diagnostic using in nuclear medicine imaging of Lung

Background: A pulmonary embolism is partial obstruction of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches by a blood clot. The early detection of this disease is very important to save the patient. The proper detection method for embolism is lung perfusion scintigraphy with nuclear medicine system, performed by 99mTcalbumin macroaggregated (MAA) that are radiolabeled particles. There are some difficulties in synthesizing of the particles and
imaging with them has some that we used chitosan microparticles as an alternative choice.
Methods: The chitosan particles were synthesized by ionotropic gelation method and radiolabeled with 99mTc after Purification.
The quality control tests including determining particles size, labeling efficiency, stability in saline buffer, Biodistribution and imaging study in the mice were performed.
Results: The size of particles was 10-60 micron. The labeling efficiency: 95±4%, the good stability in saline buffer and high accumulation of activity in mice lung were seen. The slow
excretion activity was observed in the lungs of mice after 15 minutes.
Conclusion: The results showed that the 99mTc-Chitosan microparticles may be considered as a promising radiopharmaceutical of lung perfusion scintigraphy that needs
more investigations in future.