The Possibility of Human Blood Pool Imaging By the Achievement of Researchers in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Researchers of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences have designed Radiopharmaceutical laboratory samples, which allow blood pool imaging.

According to WEBDA, with the development of Nuclear Medicine in recent years, reviewing evaluating the performance of the heart, mapping of blood pool, and detection of gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the most important objectives of this modern science. Of course, one of the biggest obstacles to blood pool imaging in human body is the patient’s red blood cells labeling in laboratory environment at Nuclear Medicine ward, which increases the risk of infection transmission through blood. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an appropriate, safe and highly durable alternative for imaging of blood vessels.

According to Mahmoud Reza Jafari, Professor of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, this study is aimed at designing appropriate radiopharmaceuticals for blood pool imaging with the help of nanostructured polymeric compounds. He stated that samples of nanostructured polymer products were provided for this purpose and their performance was assessed for imaging blood pool in an animal model after being labelled using the existing techniques. .

About the experiment conducted on the sample designed in vivo, this professor of Pharmacy Faculty of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences stated that “in this study, after preparing Polyethylene glycolated nanoliposomes, these compounds were labeled for tracking in the bloodstream. After entering the body, nanoliposomes underwent vascular imaging of blood pool and their stability as well as the possibility of proper distribution in the bloodstream was assessed.

Dr. Jafari pointed out that based on the results obtained with the help of radiopharmaceutical designed in this project, there is a possibility to produce nanoliposomes similar to human blood cells. These nanoliposomes are capable of assimilating the function of cells in blood vessels for imaging of blood pool. Also, closer examination of heart valves function and the calculation of heart output rate have been made possible by using the nanoliposomes designed.

In the end, Dr. Jafari pointed out the method of manufacturing this Nano medicine and its performance and added that “at first, Polyethylene Glycolated Nanoliposomes containing Glutathione were prepared by Solvent Evaporation and Extrusion Evaporation methods and then their dimensions were approved in the range of 50 to 100 nanometers by means of an electron microscope, a size measurement device as well as Surface Charge. 

Nanoliposomes were labeled with the help of lipophilic compounds of ^99mTc-HMPAO, and after being condensed by the Centrifugal Filter device, they were inserted into mice’s tails or rabbits’ ears through intravenous injection. In the final stage, using a Sofa Gamma Camera with a low energy and high-resolution collimator, images of the heart, liver, spleen, and bladder were reviewed qualitatively by Nuclear Medicine specialists, and Regions of Interest (ROI) were drawn for a semi-quantitative review.

The results of this study have been published in the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, volume 14 (2015), issue 4, page 981-988. The study is the result of collaboration between Dr. Kayvan Sadri, Faculty Member of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, and some other Faculty Members of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Research Center of Mashhad, Nuclear Medicine Research Center (MUMS), and Tehran Institute of Science and Technology.

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