USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

University of Texas System

James H Timmons

Alan S Rudolph

William T Phillips

Robert W Klipper

The invention relates to a .sup.99m Tc-labeled liposome encapsulated protein and to a highly efficient method of radiolabeling liposome encapsulated protein. In particular, a .sup.99m Tc carrier is used to label preformed liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin. The liposome-encapsulated .sup.99m Tc labeled hemoglobin is highly stable in vitro and in vivo and is suitable for a variety of clinical uses, including biodistribution imaging studies. The invention also relates to a method of using technetium-.sup.99m labeled liposome encapsulated hemoglobin to label neutrophils. A kit method which could be used for the convenient preparation of .sup.99m Tc-labeled liposome encapsulated hemoglobin for clinical use is also disclosed.

.sup.99m TC labeled liposomes

The invention relates to the efficient preparation of radionuclide labeled liposomes and radionuclide-labeled liposome-encapsulated protein. In particular, a .sup.99m Tc carrier is used to label preformed liposomes or liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin. .sup.99m Tc-labeled liposomes and liposome-encapsulated .sup.99m Tc labeled hemoglobin are highly stable in vitro and in vivo and are suitable for a variety of clinical uses, including biodistribution imaging studies. The invention also relates to a method of labeling neutrophils using .sup.99m technetium-labeled liposomes or liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin. A kit method useful for the convenient preparation of .sup.99m Tc-labeled liposomes or liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin for clinical use is also disclosed.

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Tacoma, WA, United States of America

James H Timmons