The Johns Hopkins University

Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan

Yuan-Chuan Lee

Wuu-Jyh Lin

Mei-Hui Wang

Reiko Takasaka Lee

Hung-Man Yu

Chuan-Yi Chien

Jian-Qiang Fan

A test indicator for quantifying remaining liver function is provided. A novel liver receptor imaging agent with liver targeting property is utilized to develop a method for quantifying remaining liver function to serve as test indicator for judging the liver failure outcome in clinic, particularly for judging the necessity of liver transplantation for patients with liver failure or liver disease. The radioactivity uptake of the test indicator was negatively correlated with the extent of liver reserve. The cutoff value of liver reserve for liver transplantation is also disclosed.

Quantification method for remaining liver function and novel liver receptor imaging agent

This invention provides novel liver targeting agents and their synthetic methods. A liver targeting agent, with a lysine based nitrilotriacetic acid structure as backbone which acquires multivalency with saccharide groups, to bind with a galactosamine chain or lactose chain is disclosed. In particular, only one amino acid L-lysine is involved to provide trivalency. All carboxyl groups in N-benzyloxycarbonyl-N-dicarboxymethyl-L-lysine can be conjugated with three glycosides of ahGalNAc or ahLac in one step. This invention also provides a hexa-lactoside. In particular, the TFA-AHA-Asp was used to conjugate 2 molecules of NTA(ahLac). This invention also provides a method for adding a spacer between NTA and DTPA. The extended hepatocyte-specific glyco-ligand has higherIn-radiolabelling yield than those non-extended.

Liver-targeting agents and their synthesis

Neoglycoconjugates and new intermediates for the synthesis thereof are synthesized by use of Endo-.beta.-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Arthrobacter protophormiae (Endo-A) in a medium containing an organic solvent.

Synthesis of glycopolymers

Synthesis of high mannose glycopolymers

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Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Yuan-Chuan Lee