Using pure Fucoidan and radiolabeled Fucoidan (99mTc-Fucoidan) as a new agent for inflammation diagnosis and therapy

Inflammation is a phenomenon responsible for the perturbation of homeostasis in several levels, with many sources, such as infection, injury, and exposure to contaminants. The necessity of new products that are effective in treating inflammation processes as can selectively imaging an inflammation site is a global issue. In this study, we have evaluated the applicability of Fucoidan as a therapeutic and imaging agent. We have assessed the Fucoidan in two inflammation models for therapeutic purposes: arthritis and lungs (LPS). In the case of use as an imaging agent, we evaluated the radiolabeled Fucoidan with 99mTc in inflamed lungs (LPS). The results demonstrated that Fucoidan has a therapeutic anti-inflammatory effect, especially in the lung model (LPS). Additionally, the imaging application demonstrated that radiolabeled Fucoidan (99mTc-Fucoidan) has an important chemoattraction for inflammation sites with very high bioaccumulation, which permits to think in an imaging application.