Bisaminoethanethiol-targeting ligand conjugates and compositions

Abstract

The invention provides, in a general sense, a new labeling strategy employing 99m Tc chelated with ethylenedicysteine (EC). EC is conjugated with a variety of ligands and chelated to 99m Tc for use as an imaging agent for tissue-specific diseases. The drug conjugates of the invention may also be used as a prognostic tool or as a tool to deliver therapeutics to specific sites within a mammalian body. Kits for use in tissue-specific disease imaging are also provided.

1 . A composition for imaging comprising:
 a) a radionuclide;   b) ethylenedicysteine; and   c) a tissue specific ligand conjugated to said ethylenedicysteine;   
       wherein said ethylenedicysteine forms an N 2 S 2  chelate with said radionuclide label. 
     
     
         2 .- 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A kit for preparing a radiopharmaceutical preparation, said kit comprising a sealed container including a predetermined quantity of an ethylenedicysteine-tissue specific ligand conjugate composition and a sufficient amount of reducing agent to label the conjugate with  99m Tc. 
     
     
         43 .- 51 . (canceled)