Evaluation of .sup.99mTc-amoxicillin sodium as an infection imaging agent in bacterially infected and sterile inflamed rats

Bacterial infection is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to develop a new radiopharmaceutical for imaging infection. The labeling conditions were optimized, and lyophilized kits were developed for instant preparing. The stability of .sup.99mTc-AMOX in human serum was identified, sterility and pyrogenicity of the radiopharmaceutical were estimated, gamma scintigraphy and in vivo biodistribution with infected rats were investigated. The promising properties of .sup.99mTc-AMOX combined with the development of reliable and instant lyophilized kit afford the opportunity of inflammatory process imaging.