Compositions comprising a tissue glue and therapeutic agents

Abstract

The present invention concerns compositions comprising a radiotherapeutic agent, or an agent which can be converted to a radiotherapeutic, and a tissue glue. The compositions of the present invention are particularly useful for providing local radiotherapy. The present invention also concerns methods of using the compositions of the invention, particularly for radiotherapy.

1 . A composition comprising a precursor of an aqueous-based plastic polymer and, in particulate form, a radiotherapeutic agent or an agent convertible to a radiotherapeutic wherein said agent mediates localised radiotherapeutic activity when immobilized in the plastic polymer.  
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said agent is in the form of a chelate holding a radioactive atom.  
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent is a ferrite.  
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the agent is a β-emitting ferrite.  
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which additionally comprises a radiation sensitiser capable of leaching out and augmenting the local radiotherapeutic effect.  
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which additionally comprises a growth factor or other substance that mitigates the anti-wound healing effect of radiation.  
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent comprises a zinc-substituted yttrium ferrite, or a  56 Fe-enriched ferrite.  
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent comprises  103 Pd or  90 Y.  
     
     
         9 . A method for the radiotherapy of a tumor, which comprises applying to the tumor an effective amount of a composition as defined in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the radiotherapy of a tumor comprises brachytherapy.  
     
     
         11 . A method of radiation synovectomy which comprises administering an effective amount of a composition of  claim 1  to a patient to be treated.  
     
     
         12 . A method of radiotherapy in the treatment of arterio-venous malformations in a blood vessel which comprises applying to the blood vessel a composition as defined in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         13 . A method for making a composition of  claim 1  which comprises: 
 (i) preparing a particulate radionuclide; and    (ii) mixing the particulate radionuclide with the polymer precursor.    
     
     
         14 . A method of using a composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises applying the composition directly to tumor tissue.  
     
     
         15 . A composition comprising a precursor of an aqueous-based plastic polymer and, in particulate form, a radiotherapeutic ferrite or a ferrite convertible to a radiotherapeutic, wherein said ferrite mediates localised radiotherapeutic activity when immobilized in the plastic polymer.  
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the ferrite is a β-emitting ferrite.  
     
     
         17 . A composition comprising a precursor of an aqueous-based plastic polymer and, in particulate form, a radiotherapeutic agent or an agent convertible to a radiotherapeutic, wherein the agent comprises a zinc substituted yttrium ferrite or a  56 Fe-enriched ferrite, wherein said agent mediates localised radiotherapeutic activity when immobilized in the plastic polymer.  
     
     
         18 . A composition comprising a precursor of an aqueous-based plastic polymer and, in particulate form, a radiotherapeutic agent or an agent convertible to a radiotherapeutic, wherein the agent is a ferrite comprising  103 Pd or  90 Y, and wherein said agent mediates localised radiotherapeutic activity when immobilized in the plastic polymer.  
     
     
         19 . A composition comprising an aqueous-based plastic polymer and, in particulate form, a radiotherapeutic agent or an agent convertible to a radiotherapeutic wherein said agent mediates localised radiotherapeutic activity when immobilized in the plastic polymer.  
     
     
         20 . A composition comprising an aqueous-based plastic polymer and, in particulate form, a radiotherapeutic ferrite or a ferrite convertible to a radiotherapeutic, wherein said ferrite mediates localised radiotherapeutic activity when immobilized in the plastic polymer.