Isothiocyanate-trigalactose: application for antibody-targeted delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents

Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies (MAb) and MAb-streptavidin conjugates exhibit slow blood clearance which impedes radioimmunoimaging and radioimmunotherapy. To control blood clearance and lower background levels, lesion-specific targeting proteins can be modified with galactose derivatives for liver uptake via the hepatocyte galactose receptor. In this study, an isothiocyanate-trigalactose derivative (ITC-Tgal) designed for direct coupling to protein amino groups, was synthesized and characterized. In vitro experimentation demonstrated efficient conjugation of ITC-Tgal to streptavidin (SA) and MAb Fab fragment with a corresponding decrease in protein net charge. In vivo studies were conducted with radiolabeled ITC-Tgal modified and native SA and MAb Fab fragment. ITC-Tgal modified SA and Fab fragment exhibited increased blood clearance with the liver uptake and the rate of blood clearance controlled by the extent of ITC-Tgal modification.