Autoradiography of high-energy radionuclides using a microchannel plate detector

We report on the use of a microchannel plate-based imaging system for autoradiography of biological samples labeled with radionuclides emitting high-energy (140-2000 keV) beta particle and gamma radiation. Samples can be imaged sufficiently rapidly (exposures 1-2 h for electrophoresis gels, /spl sim/24 h for thin tissue sections) to allow imaging of nuclides with short half-lives, such as /sup 99m/Tc. Measurement of the detector efficiencies for /sup 99m/Tc and /sup 188/Re isotopes is reported. Images of a variety of samples labeled with clinically important therapeutic radionuclides /sup 67/Cu and /sup 131/I are presented. In particular, we report preliminary images of radiolabeled anti-MUC1 mucin antibody C595 currently being developed as a therapeutic conjugate for treating bladder, breast, and ovarian tumors.