Polymer based radionuclide containing particulate material

Abstract

The invention relates to a particulate material having a diameter in the range of from 5 to 200 microns comprising polymeric matrix and stably incorporated radionuclide, processes for its production and a method of radiation therapy utilising the particulate material.

1 . A particulate material having a diameter in the range of from 5 to 200 microns comprising a polymeric matrix and stably incorporated radionuclide. 
   
   
       2 . The particulate material according to  claim 1  wherein the radionuclide is incorporated by precipitation. 
   
   
       3 . The particulate material according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric matrix is partially cross linked. 
   
   
       4 . The particulate material according to  claim 3  wherein the polymeric matrix comprises from about 1% to about 20% cross linking. 
   
   
       5 . The particulate material according to  claim 4  wherein the polymeric matrix comprises about 4% cross linking. 
   
   
       6 . The particulate material according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric matrix is an ion exchange resin. 
   
   
       7 . The particulate material according to  claim 6  wherein the polymeric matrix is a cation exchange resin. 
   
   
       8 . The particulate material according to  claim 6  wherein the ion exchange resin comprises a partially cross linked aliphatic polymer. 
   
   
       9 . The particulate material according to  claim 6  wherein the ion exchange resin comprises a partially cross linked polystyrene. 
   
   
       10 . The particulate material according to  claim 9  wherein the ion exchange resin comprises polystyrene partially cross linked with divinyl benzene. 
   
   
       11 . The particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the radionuclide is an isotope of yttrium, holmium, samarium, iodine, phosphorus, iridium or rhenium. 
   
   
       12 . The particulate material according to  claim 1 , wherein the radionuclide is yttrium-90. 
   
   
       13 . The particulate material according to  claim 1  being a microsphere. 
   
   
       14 . A particulate material having a diameter in the range of from 30 to 35 microns comprising a copolymer comprised of styrene and divinyl benzene and precipitated yttrium-90. 
   
   
       15 . A process for the production of a particulate material according to  claim 1  comprising the step of combining a polymeric matrix and a radionuclide in solution for a time and under conditions sufficient to stably incorporate the radionuclide in the matrix to produce a particulate material having a diameter in the range of from 5 to 200 microns. 
   
   
       16 . A process according to  claim 15  wherein the radionuclide is stably incorporated by precipitation into the polymeric matrix. 
   
   
       17 . A process according to  claim 15  wherein the radionuclide is yttrium-90. 
   
   
       18 . A method of radiation therapy of a patient, which comprises administration to the patient of a particulate material having a diameter in the range of from 5 to 200 microns comprising a polymeric matrix and a stably incorporated radionuclide. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the radionuclide is yttrium-90. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the radiation therapy comprises treatment of a primary or secondary liver cancer. 
   
   
       21 . Use of particulate material having a diameter in the range of from 5 to 200 microns comprising a polymeric matrix and a stably incorporated radionuclide in radiation therapy of a patient. 
   
   
       22 . Use according to  claim 21  wherein the radionuclide is yttrium-90. 
   
   
       23 . Use according to  claim 21  wherein the radiation therapy comprises treatment of a primary or secondary liver cancer.