A fluorescent agent for monitoring organ function, such as glomerular filtration, renal blood flow, or hepatic function. The agent is injected into a subject and the fluorescence monitored in vivo via time-resolved fluorescent techniques. The agent is a lanthanide ion chelated to a polyaminopolyacetic acid analog. A new clearance agent is also proposed based on a tetraazamacrocycle. Such a clearance agent also finds applications in other fields where fluorescence detection is exploited.
This application claims priority from Provisional Application No. 60/219,362, filed Jul. 19, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention provides, in a general sense, a new labeling strategy employing .sup.99mTc chelated with ethylenedicysteine (EC). EC is conjugated with a variety of ligands and chelated to .sup.99mTc for use as an imaging agent for tissue-specific diseases. The drug conjugates of the invention may also be used as a prognostic tool or as a tool to deliver therapeutics to specific sites within a mammalian body. Kits for use in tissue-specific disease imaging are also provided.
