Microemulsions labelled with radioactivity used as means for targeting neoplastic cells
AssigneeFundacao E.J. Zerbini
InventorRaul Cavalcante Maranhao
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing neoplasms by means of injecting radioactively-labelled microemulsions into the blood circulation so as to localize neoplastic cells. This invention provides a more accurate method for detecting the presence of tumoral processes in their early stage. The Present further provides a microemulsion that, when incorporated with greater amounts of radioactive materials, not only improves the quality of the images generated but also kills the neoplastic cells.
Claims6
A method for diagnosing neoplasms, wherein cells from said neoplasms have an increased number of LDL receptors, comprising:
- a. injecting intravenously into the plasma of a person a protein-free microemulsion, composed of particles having a hydrophobic core surrounded by a monolayer of phospholipids having free cholesterol on the surface of said phospholipids, said particles labelled with a detectable amount of radioactive material bound to said phospholipids and the hydrophobic core;
- b. binding the surface of said particles to apolipoprotein E circulating in the plasma;
- c. binding said apolipoprotein E bound to said particles to the LDL specific receptor on said neoplastic cells;
- and,
- d. detecting said particles bound to said apolipoprotein E and LDL receptor, allowing said radioactive material to be registered by a detecting means external to the person.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.