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Objective: This study aimed to investigate the optimal conditions for producing 68 Ga-labeled tin colloid and the feasibility of 68 Ga-tin colloid positron emission tomography (PET) for visualization and evaluation of the phagocytic function of Kupffer cells (KCs) in vivo., Methods: 68 Ga-tin colloid was prepared by adding tin solution (1 mM, 0.2 mL) to 68 Ga solution (1.0 mL), followed by pH adjustment with sodium acetate (1 M, 0.2 mL). Various labeling times were tested to find the optimal one. Colloid size was measured by filtering the solution through three-ply membrane filters (with pore sizes of 200, 3000, and 5000 nm), and radioactivity was measured in the whole filtrate and the filters using a gamma counter. The in vitro stability of the colloid was evaluated by the size measurement after incubation under ambient conditions for up to 60 min. PET scanning was performed for 30 min after intravenous administration of 68 Ga-tin colloid solution (4 MBq) to healthy rats. Time-activity-curves for the liver, spleen, and blood pool were generated. Finally, liver uptake was compared before and after the establishment of KC-depletion and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) rat models., Results: Colloid size increased with increasing labeling time. After pH adjustment, the colloid sizes remained nearly unchanged. The optimal labeling time was determined as 30 min. PET imaging of healthy rats revealed that liver uptake of the 68 Ga-tin colloid increased with increasing colloid size. In KC-depleted rats, liver uptake significantly decreased (n = 4, p < 0.01). NASH model rats showed significantly decreased uptake of 68 Ga-tin colloid in the livers (n = 5, p < 0.01)., Conclusions: 68 Ga-tin colloid, prepared by a simple radiolabeling method, enabled in vivo PET imaging to evaluate the phagocytic function of KCs.

This article reviews the literature related to the bioavailability of tin, inorganic tin compounds, and organotin compounds. On the one hand, the toxicity of metallic tin and inorganic tin compounds is low. In aqueous systems, the potential bioavailability of tin seems to depend on the concentration of the truly dissolved ion species. Some studies suggest that tin is an essential trace element for humans. However, organotin compounds have been proven to be of toxicological relevance. Triorganotin compounds are particularly toxic explaining their wide use as biocides (e.g., in antifouling paints or pesticides). Persistence of organotin compounds is governed by moderate to fast aerobic biotic degradation processes, slow anaerobic biotic degradation, slow abiotic degradation by photolysis, and fast, but reversible, adsorption/desorption processes. Organotin compounds are ubiquitously distributed in aquatic organisms. Bioconcentration in organisms and ecotoxicity are dependent on the bioavailable fraction. The bioavailability is highest at neutral and slightly alkaline pH and is reduced in the presence of dissolved organic carbon. The biomagnification of organotin compounds via the food chain is of minor importance compared with the bioconcentration from the water phase.