Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
4D Multimodality Imaging of Citrobacter rodentium Infections in Mice
Published on: August 13, 2013
Experimental studies on imaging of infected site with (99m)Tc-labeled ciprofloxacin in mice
Hong Zhang1, Ning-yi Jiang, Lin Zhu
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, China.
Background:
Bacterial infection can pose a substantial diagnostic dilemma. (99m)Tc-labeled ciprofloxacin (CPF) was developed as a biologically active radiopharmaceutical to diagnose infection. In the present research, we studied the biodistribution and imaging properties of infection tracer (99m)Tc-CPF in a mouse model of infection.
Methods:
CPF was labeled with (99m)Tc and the radiochemical purity and labeling rate were measured. A mouse model of infection was established. We then determined the biodistribution of (99m)Tc-CPF and conducted the whole body scintigraphy of the animal model.
Results:
(99m)Tc-Ciprotech was stable for at least 6 hours at room temperature. The labeling rate of CPF by (99m)Tc was over 90%. Clearance of radioactivity mainly occurred in the liver and kidney, and the clearance from blood was rapid. Both biodistribution and imaging results showed higher uptake of (99m)Tc-CPF at sites of infection. The infectious tissue/normal tissue ratio peak was 4.30 at 4 hours after injection.
Conclusions:
(99m)Tc-CPF is a sensitive radiopharmaceutical for scintigraphy of infectious lesions and it is easy to prepare.
Insights
Technetium-99m-labeled ciprofloxacin ((99m)Tc-CPF) effectively visualizes bacterial infections in mice. This radiopharmaceutical shows high uptake at infection sites, aiding in sensitive scintigraphy for diagnosing infectious lesions.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear medicine
- Radiopharmaceutical development
- Infectious disease imaging
Background:
- Bacterial infections present significant diagnostic challenges.
- Technetium-99m-labeled ciprofloxacin ((99m)Tc-CPF) is a radiopharmaceutical designed for infection diagnosis.
- This study investigates the biodistribution and imaging of (99m)Tc-CPF in a mouse infection model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the biodistribution and imaging characteristics of (99m)Tc-CPF.
- To determine the efficacy of (99m)Tc-CPF as an infection imaging agent in a preclinical model.
Main Methods:
- Ciprofloxacin (CPF) was labeled with Technetium-99m ((99m)Tc).
- Radiochemical purity and labeling efficiency were assessed.
- A mouse model of bacterial infection was established.
- Biodistribution studies and whole-body scintigraphy were performed.
Main Results:
- (99m)Tc-CPF demonstrated high stability and labeling efficiency (>90%).
- Rapid blood clearance and primary clearance via liver and kidney were observed.
- Significantly higher (99m)Tc-CPF uptake was detected at infection sites compared to normal tissues.
- An infectious tissue to normal tissue ratio peaked at 4.30 at 4 hours post-injection.
Conclusions:
- (99m)Tc-CPF is a sensitive radiopharmaceutical for scintigraphic detection of infectious lesions.
- The preparation of (99m)Tc-CPF is straightforward.
- This agent shows promise for diagnosing infectious diseases.
