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【Exploring the kinetics of biological macromolecules】

Gallium-⁶⁸ (⁶⁸Ga) is a cyclotron-free positron emitter used in molecular imaging that is easily obtained by milking from a ⁶⁸Ge-⁶⁸Ga generator. ⁶⁸Ga is suitable for complexation reaction of chelators that is conjugated with biological macromolecules such as nucleic acids, peptides, and proteins including antibodies.

【Pharmacokinetic research】

Applying molecular imaging technology to pharmacokinetic research enables non-invasive elucidation of how drugs and their metabolites are absorbed, distributed and excreated within the body. It also enables detailed pharmacokinetic evaluations of the effects of gene polymorphisms and drug-drug interactions involving drug transporters, and we believe it will become an indispensable tool for drug discovery research.

【Etiologial and pathological studies】

Alzheimer's disease (AD) showing symptoms of cognitive impairment, is believed to be the result of the accumulation of β-amyloyd peptide, a type of insoluble fiber, within the brain. Previously, a final diagnosis of AD could only be made after death by confirming the presence of β-amyloid peptide accumulation within the brain, but PET imaging using PIB has now enabled diagnosis in living patients. Our laboratory has collaborated with Osaka City University and has done 129 cases of PET imaging using PIB by the end of 2008. The studies revealed that ca. 80% of diagnosed AD patients have accumulation of PIB in the brain. Furthermore, the two-year-follow-up study showed that PIB accumulated in 2/3 of the patients who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairments at first and then had moved to AD. Research on anti-amyloid therapy to completely dissolve β-amyloid peptides is currently underway for AD, and PET imaging using PIB is playing an important role in early diagnosis and in the determination of therapeutic planning.