Yokohama City University

Principal Investigator_T.Inoue

Technical development of molecular imaging and clinical diagnosis, related to post-translational modification

Tomio Inoue
Professor, Radiology
researchmap

Our Aim

Our aim is the technical development of imaging and clinical diagnosis methods using labeling technology with (Positron Emission Tomography) a nuclide attached to the compound that is related to the post-translational modification.

Background

Using the labeling technology with the PET nuclide or other radioactive nuclides, we will obtain not only the imaging data of the medicine, but also pharmacokinetic information from the cultured cells and at the whole animal level. Recently, these data have been a very important step in the development of clinical medicines. We also expect these technologies to be an essential core-technology for research and the development of new medicines.

Research Overview

PET nuclide has short T1/2 (half-time of decay), therefore we can use a much larger dosage of radioactivity. This approach is suitable for fast imaging following the loading of the labeled medicine. On the other hand, we need a particular technology and environment to radio-protect; therefore we have to use the cyclotron (installed in the basement of our university’s hospital) as well as a “hot-labo”space (also installed nearby the cyclotron).
We will provide the labeled medicine for clinical use, and also prepare the labeled compound function as an antagonist by binding the receptor. With these labeled compounds, we will obtain imaging and data on ADME (absorption, distribution,metabolism, excretion), the binding rate, and will be able to trace the target medicine.

Achievements

We have developed low MW compounds labeled with F-18, C-11, and Ga-68 for clinical use. Additionally, we have tried to synthesize and obtain an image of a high MW compound labeled by a longer half-life PET nuclide. And also, we have partly developed the new “stealth” compound.