Potential use of 68Ga-apo-transferrin as a PET imaging agent for detecting Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Abstract Introduction 67 Ga citrate has been extensively used to detect infection and inflammation since 1971. However, its clinical utility is compromised due to several limitations. The present project explored whether 68 Ga- apo -transferrin ( 68 Ga-TF), when prepared in vitro, is a useful agent for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of bacterial infection. Methods An infection was induced in male Wistar rats by injecting 5×10 5 CFU units of Staphyococcus aureus in the right thigh muscle. 68 Ga-TF was synthesized by mixing 68 GaCl 3 with apo -transferrin (TF, 2 mg) in sodium carbonate (0.1 M, pH 7.0) and incubating at 40°C for 1 h. Animals were injected with 10–15 MBq of 68 Ga-TF…