Synthesis, optimization and biological evaluation of 99mTc-digoxin as possible cardiac imaging agent.

Heart imaging radiopharmaceuticals could improve the diagnostic value of routine heart scanning for detecting cardiac disorders. The aim of the study was to prepare high radiochemical purity 99mTc-Digoxin in a yield of about 98%. The optimal conditions for labelling were as follows: 100μg of Digoxin, 2μg of SnCl<inf>2</inf>•2H<inf>2</inf>O, room temperature (25±1°C), reaction retention time of 30 min at pH 7. Under these conditions, the radiochemical yield of 99mTc-Digoxin reaches 98%. In vivo bio distribution was performed in normal Swiss Albino mice at different time intervals after administration of 99mTc-Digoxin.Scintigraphic study of 99mTc-Digoxin was performed in rabbits. The heart uptake of 99mTc-Digoxin was sufficiently high and thus may be a potential myocardial imaging radiopharmaceutical applicable in cardiology.