Radioactive microspheres made of nanoporous glass for radiation therapy

Abstract

A radiation therapy product of spherical nanoporous glass beads that are loaded with a radionuclide. Each microsphere has a diameter in the range of about 25 to 60 microns. The pore structure of each microsphere occupies between about 30 and 90 percent of the microsphere's volume, and the inner surface area measures between about 30 and 500 m 2 /g. One or more radionuclides is embedded in the nanopores of each microsphere. In a preferred embodiment the product has at least two radionuclides, a first radionuclide achieves a therapeutic effect and a second radionuclide has nuclear medical diagnostic properties. Preferably the therapeutic radionuclide is Y-90 and the diagnostic radionuclide is In-111, Ga-68, or Ga-67. In a preferred embodiment the radionuclides are made less soluble or insoluble in blood components to avoid leaching or washing the radionuclide away.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A radiation therapy product comprising:
 a. a plurality of microspheres, each made of nanoporous glass that has a plurality of nanopores, wherein each microsphere has a diameter in the range of about 25 to 60 microns; and   b. a plurality of radionuclides embedded in the nanopores on each microsphere.   
     
     
         8 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  with an effective density of less than 2.2 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         9 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  with an effective density of less than 1.5 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         10 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  wherein the diameter of each
 nanopore is in the range of about 5 to 400 nm. 
 
     
     
         11 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  wherein the microspheres have an inner surface area of between about 30 and 500 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         12 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  wherein the radionuclide is Y-90. 
     
     
         13 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  wherein the radionuclide is In-111. 
     
     
         14 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  wherein the radionuclide is Ga-68. 
     
     
         15 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  wherein the radionuclide is Ga-67. 
     
     
         16 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  having at least two radionuclides wherein a first radionuclide achieves a therapeutic effect and a second radionuclide has nuclear medical diagnostic properties. 
     
     
         17 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 17  wherein the first radionuclide is Y-90 and the second radionuclide is In-111, Ga-68, or Ga-67. 
     
     
         18 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  wherein radiation therapy product is insoluble in blood. 
     
     
         19 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  wherein the radionuclide is made less soluble in blood by the addition of acid during preparation of the product. 
     
     
         20 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  wherein the radionuclide is fixed on the surface of the nanopores by baking. 
     
     
         21 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 7  wherein the radionuclide is chemically or physically bonded to the surface of the nanopores. 
     
     
         22 . A radiation therapy product comprising:
 a. a plurality of microspheres, each having an inner surface with a plurality of nanopores;   b. a plurality of radionuclides embedded in the nanopores.   
     
     
         23 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 22  wherein each microsphere has a diameter in the range of about 25 to 60 micrometers. 
     
     
         24 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 22  with an effective density of less than 2.2 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         25 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 22  wherein the radionuclide is treated to make it less soluble or insoluble in blood components. 
     
     
         26 . The radiation therapy product according to  claim 22  wherein the radionuclide is treated to remain attached to the surface of the nanopores.