Radiolabeling brachytherapy sources with Re-188 through relating microfilms: Stents

Abstract

Rhenium-188 (Re-188, T(1/2) = T(1/2 = 17 h) emits beta particles (E(max) = 2.12 MeV) having an ideal range for intravascular brachytherapy and certain cancer brachytherapies. Re-188 was attached to metal wafers and stents via a chelating microfilm, and these brachytherapy sources characterized in vitro and in vivo. To prepare the sources, a siloxane film containing reactive amines was plasma deposited on the metal, a chelating microfilm conjugated to the amines, and the chelating microfilm used to attach Re-188. Re-188 was selectively bound to materials coated with the chelating microfilm. Binding correlated with the amount of radionuclide used. Wafers (1 cm2) bound up to 62.9 MBq (1.7 mCi) of Re-188 with yields generally near 30%. Stents bound up to 26.6 MBq (720 μCi). Typically, stents were labeled to bind 4-12 MBq and deposit 10-30 Gy at 2 mm in the arterial wall. In phantom studies, the longer nitinol stents deposited doses of 2.3 Gy/MBq (0.085 Gy/μCi), while shorter stainless steel stents deposited 4.62 Gy/MBq (0.171 Gy/μCi). After placement in arteries of pigs, only the Re-188-stents were detected by scintigraphy at times up to 24 h. Scintigraphy did not detect activity in other organs. Blood sampling (0.1-24 h) detected maximum radioactivity (up to 388 cpm/mL/100μ Ci) at 6 h. We conclude that on-demand radiolabeling of stents and other brachytherapy sources with Re-188 can be performed routinely. (C) 2000 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.