Studies on the Preparation of $^{99m}TC$ Labelled Antimony Sulfide Colloid and Hydroxyethyl Starch for Lymphoscintigraphy

For the development of antimony sulfide colloid and hydroxyethyl starch, various experiments such as preparation of colloid, control of the distribution of particle size, establishment of labelling conditions, determination of labelling yield and radiochemical purity, examination of stability, and organ imagings of rabbits etc. were carried out. 1) Antimony sulfide colloid was readily prepared by the reaction of aqueous solution of antimony potassium tartrate with hydrogen sulfide generated by treating ferrous sulfide with dilute sulfuric acid. The colloid could be stabilized by adding small amount of polyvinylpyrrolidone. 2) Electron microscopy analysis exhibited the distribution of colloid size in the range of with a major portion of 9 m. The colloid solution was sterilized by membrane filtration and then stored at . This sterilized colloid was so stable that it was usable at least for one year. 3) The antimony sulfide colloid was labelled by adding sodium solution to the reaction vial, followed by adding hydrochloric acid and then boiled for 30 min. The optimal pH of the reaction mixture was found to be in the range of . Instant thin layer chromatography (ITLC) analysis showed high labelling yield of above 99.5%. This labelled colloid maintained high radio-chemical purity of above 99% until 10 hours after labelling. 4) Animal studies showed high uptake of colloid at lymph vessels and nodes indicating a suitable agent for lymphoscintigraphy. Satisfactory results were also abtained in other clinical studies. 5) Hydroxyethyl starch (HES ) was labelled with in the presence of with high labelling yield of above 99.5%. The optimal pH of the reaction mixture was in the range of . maintained high radiochemical purity of above 99% until 10 hours after labelling. 6) Animal studies showed that migrated more rapidly from the injection sites into the lymph vessels than colloid while less amount of the former was uptaken at lymph nodes than that of the latter. Similar phenomenon was also observed in other clinical studies. As a result, colloid was found to be more effective lymphoscintigraphic agent than .