| abstract |
A method for the accumulation of trace-labeled or therapeutic insoluble molecules in targeted cells of a living host for purposes including diagnosis, therapy, and research in cell biology. The method enables soluble precipitable materials, which can be trace-labeled or therapeutic, to be made to accumulate as non-digestible precipitates in targeted cells as a result of enzyme action within the targeted cells. Accumulation is achieved by administering to the living host a soluble binary reagent having a targeting agent attached to a chemical agent which is a soluble precipitable material. The binary reagent binds to antigenic receptors on targeted cells which endocytosed the binary reagent and transport it into the lysosomes where enzymes detach the soluble precipitable material from the targeting agent, causing it to precipitate, accumulate, and be retained in the cells. Continuing the administration of the binary reagent forms an accumulation of precipitate which becomes a stable insoluble tracer agent or a stable insoluble therapeutic agent in the targeted cells. The method can be applied to the diagnosis and scanning of certain diseased states, and to the therapy of certain diseased states, such as cancer, by generating supra-lethal micro-regions of radiation around targeted cells called Hot-Spots which are capable of killing, non-specifically, all cells in the immediate micro-region. |