Technetium-99 m labelling of DD-3B6/22 antifibrin monoclonal antibody fragment Fab' for thrombus imaging.

The antifibrin DD-3B6/22 monoclonal antibody Fab' fragment, a murine immunoglobulin, IgG3, has been labelled with technetium-99 m (99mTc) via a transchelation reaction, to specific activity in excess of 30 mCi/mg protein. The radiolabelling of Fab' was dependent on time, temperature, pH, antibody concentrations and nature of intermediary transchelation complex used. The resultant radioconjugate was stable in vitro and in vivo. Blood clearance of 99mTc-Fab' in rat followed two compartment kinetics with the half time of the fast phase being 0.5 h. The main route of excretion was via the kidneys with little uptake indicated by other tissues. The results suggest that the inherent specificity of the antibody, small molecular size, rapid plasma clearance, high specific radioactivity, together with the physical properties of the 99mTc label, combine to make this labelled monoclonal antibody (MoAb), potentially suitable as a radiopharmaceutical for the scintigraphic detection of thrombi in humans.