Brain delivery enabled by transient blood-brain barrier disruption induced by regadenoson: a PET imaging study.

BACKGROUND: Regadenoson, an agonist of adenosine A2 receptors, enables transient blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. The relevance of regadenoson as a pharmacological strategy for brain delivery was investigated using in vivo PET imaging in rats. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Kinetic modeling of brain PET data was performed to estimate the impact of regadenoson (0.05 mg.kg-1, i.v.) on BBB permeation compared with control rats (n = 4-6 per group). Three radiolabeled compounds of different sizes, which do not cross the intact BBB, were tested. RESULTS: Regadenoson significantly increased the BBB penetration (+116 ± 13%, p < 0.001) of [18F]2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-sorbitol ([18F]FDS, MW = 183 Da), a small-molecule marker of BBB permeability. The magnitude of the effect was different across brain regions, with a maximum increase in the striatum. Recovery of BBB integrity was observed 30 min after regadenoson injection. Regadenoson also increased the brain penetration (+72 ± 45%, p < 0.05) of a radiolabeled nanoparticle [89Zr]AGuIX (MW = 9 kDa). However, the brain kinetics of a monoclonal antibody ([89Zr]mAb, MW = 150 kDa) remained unchanged (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PET imaging showed the features and limitations of BBB disruption induced by regadenoson in terms of extent, regional distribution, and reversibility. Nevertheless, regadenoson enables the brain delivery of small molecules or nanoparticles in rats.

Imaging quantitative changes in blood-brain barrier permeability using [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-sorbitol ([18F]FDS) PET in relation to glial cell recruitment in a mouse model of endotoxemia.

The quantitative relationship between the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the recruitment of glial cells was explored in a mouse model of endotoxemia. [18F]2-Fluoro-2-deoxy-sorbitol ([18F]FDS) PET imaging was used as a paracellular marker for quantitative monitoring of BBB permeability after i.v injection of increasing doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or vehicle (saline, n = 5). The brain distribution of [18F]FDS (VT, mL.cm-3) was estimated using kinetic modeling. LPS dose-dependently increased the brain VT of [18F]FDS after injection of LPS 4 mg/kg (5.2 ± 2.4-fold, n = 4, p < 0.01) or 5 mg/kg (9.0 ± 9.1-fold, n = 4, p < 0.01) but not 3 mg/kg (p > 0.05, n = 7). In 12 individuals belonging to the different groups, changes in BBB permeability were compared with expression of markers of astrocyte (GFAP) and microglial cell (CD11b) using ex vivo immunohistochemistry. Increased expression of CD11b and GFAP expression was observed in mice injected with 3 mg/kg of LPS, which did not increase with higher LPS doses. Quantitative [18F]FDS PET imaging can capture different levels of BBB permeability in vivo. A biphasic effect was observed with the lowest dose of LPS that triggered neuroinflammation without disruptive changes in BBB permeability, and higher LPS doses that increased BBB permeability without additional recruitment of glial cells.

Impact of Radiolabeling Strategies on the Pharmacokinetics and Distribution of an Anti-PD-L1 PET Ligand.

Molecular imaging with PET offers an alternative method to quantify programmed-death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) to accurately select patients for immunotherapies. More and more clinical and preclinical trials involve radiolabeling of antibody fragments for their desirably fast clearance and high tumor penetration. As the radiolabeling strategy can significantly impact pharmacokinetics and biodistribution, we explored in this work a site-specific radiofluorination strategy on an anti-PD-L1 fragment antigen-binding (Fab) and compared the pharmacokinetic and biodistribution properties with the same Fab labeled using stochastic radiolabeling chemistry. We applied an enzymatic bioconjugation mediated by a variant of the lipoic acid ligase (LplA) that promotes the formation of an amide bond between a short peptide cloned onto the C terminus of the Fab. A synthetic analogue of the enzyme natural substrate, lipoic acid, was radiolabeled with fluorine-18 for site-specific conjugation by LplA. We compared the biodistribution of the site-specifically labeled Fab with a stochastically labeled Fab on lysine side chains in tumor-bearing mice. The two methods of fluorination demonstrate a comparable whole-body biodistribution. The 89Zr-labeled Fab had different biodistribution compared to either 18F-labeled Fab. We attribute the difference to [89Zr] metabolism. Fab-LAP-[18F]FPyOctA therefore reflects better the true pharmacokinetic profile of the Fab.

PET/Fluorescence Imaging: An Overview of the Chemical Strategies to Build Dual Imaging Tools.

Molecular imaging is a biomedical research discipline that has quickly emerged to afford the observation, characterization, monitoring, and quantification of biomarkers and biological processes in living organism. It covers a large array of imaging techniques, each of which provides anatomical, functional, or metabolic information. Multimodality, as the combination of two or more of these techniques, has proven to be one of the best options to boost their individual properties, hence offering unprecedented tools for human health. In this review, we will focus on the combination of positron emission tomography and fluorescence imaging from the specific perspective of the chemical synthesis of dual imaging agents. Based on a detailed analysis of the literature, this review aims at giving a comprehensive overview of the chemical strategies implemented to build adequate imaging tools considering radiohalogens and radiometals as positron emitters, fluorescent dyes mostly emitting in the NIR window and all types of targeting vectors.

Original synthesis of radiolabeling precursors for batch and on resin one-step/late-stage radiofluorination of peptides.

Radiolabeling of peptides with fluorine-18 is hurdled by their chemical sensitivity and complicated processes. Original triflyl-pyridine intermediates afforded ammonium precursors that were radiolabeled at low temperature. From that study, a generic tag has been designed to allow a simple one-step/late-stage radiolabelling of peptides. The strategy has been transposed to an automated "on-resin" radiolabelling.

New fluorine-18 pretargeting PET imaging by bioorthogonal chlorosydnone-cycloalkyne click reaction.

We report the first pretargeting in vivo study using the Strain-Promoted Sydnone-Alkyne Cycloaadition (SPSAC) reaction. The injection of a fluorine-18 labeled cyclooctyne three days after cetuximab bearing chlorosydnone moieties allowed a significant detection of the tumor by PET imaging suggesting an efficient click reaction inside the tumoral site. With a kinetic constant superior to 300 M-1 s-1, the SPSAC reaction might be an interesting tool, in addition to tetrazine-cyclooctene ligation, for in vivo chemistry.

Assembly of the Entire Carbon Backbone of a Stereoisomer of the Antitumor Marine Natural Product Hemicalide.

A strategy for the assembly of the entire carbon backbone of a stereoisomer of the antitumor marine natural product hemicalide has been investigated. The devised convergent approach relies on Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons and Julia-Kocienski olefination reactions for the construction of the C6=C7 and C34=C35 double bonds, respectively, an aldol reaction to create the C27-C28 bond, and a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling as the endgame to form the C15-C16 bond.

[18 F]FPyZIDE: A versatile prosthetic reagent for the fluorine-18 radiolabeling of biologics via copper-catalyzed or strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloadditions.

Methods for the radiolabeling of biologics with fluorine-18 have been of interest for several decades. A common approach consists in the preparation of a prosthetic reagent, a small molecule bearing a fluorine-18 that is conjugated with the macromolecule to an appropriate function. Click chemistry, and more particularly cycloadditions, is an interesting approach to radiolabel molecules thanks to mild reaction conditions, high yields, low by-products formation, and strong orthogonality. Moreover, the chemical functions involved in the cycloaddition reaction are stable in the drastic radiofluorination conditions, thus allowing a simple radiosynthetic route to prepare the prosthetic reagent. We report herein the radiosynthesis of 18 F-FPyZIDE, a pyridine-based azide-bearing prosthetic reagent. We exemplified its conjugation via copper-catalyzed cycloaddition (CuAAC) and strain-promoted cycloaddition (SPAAC) with several terminal alkyne or strained alkyne model compounds.

Stereoselective Ring-Opening of gem-Difluorocyclopropanes: An Entry to Stereo-defined (E,E)- and (E,Z)-Conjugated Fluorodienes.

The ring-opening of gem-difluorocyclopropyl acetaldehydes producing selectively (E,E)- and (E,Z)-conjugated fluorodienals is described. Two stereo-divergent methods are presented to access both stereoisomers from a common precursor, in high yield and selectivity. The mechanistic aspect of these transformations is discussed.

Synthetic Studies toward the C32-C46 Segment of Hemicalide. Assignment of the Relative Configuration of the C36-C42 Subunit.

The synthesis of five diastereomeric model compounds incorporating the C32-C46 segment of the antitumor marine natural product hemicalide has been achieved through a convergent approach relying on the 1,4-addition of an alkenyl boronate to an α,ß-unsaturated δ-lactone followed by α-hydroxylation of an enolate and a Julia-Kocienski olefination. Comparison of the (1)H and (13)C NMR data of the model compounds with those of hemicalide enabled the assignment of the relative configuration of the C36-C42 subunit.

Chemoselective synthesis of ß-ketophosphonates using lithiated α-(trimethylsilyl)methylphosphonate.

A highly chemoselective synthesis of ß-ketophosphonates from pentafluorophenyl esters and lithiated methyl α-(trimethylsilyl)methylphosphonate has been developed. This mild lithiated phosphonate reagent allows the synthesis of functionalized ß-ketophosphonates in the presence of unactivated esters with high yields. This method has been compared with the standard lithiated methylphosphonate reagent.

Copper(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition of 4-bromosydnones and alkynes for the regioselective synthesis of 1,4,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles.

Copper-catalyzed cycloaddition of alkynes with 4-bromosydnones provides a convenient, mild, and regioselective method for the synthesis of a wide range of bromopyrazoles. The broad functional group tolerance of the cycloaddition reaction and further palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions allowed the preparation of polyfunctionalized 1,4,5-pyrazoles that are otherwise difficult to obtain by conventional methods.

Strength by joining methods: combining synthesis with NMR, IR, and vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy for the determination of the relative configuration in hemicalide.

The relative configuration of a key subunit of hemicalide, a recently isolated, highly bioactive marine natural product having potent antiproliferative activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines, was assigned by combining stereocontrolled synthesis of model substrates with NMR, IR, and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy. The assignment of the absolute configuration of asymmetric carbon center C42 in two structurally complex epimeric substructures containing six stereocenters by VCD analysis illustrates the power and reliability of combining methods.

A phosphine-catalyzed preparation of 4-arylidene-5-imidazolones.

A simple and efficient method for constructing 4-arylidene-5-imidazolones was developed using a phosphine-catalyzed tandem umpolung addition and intramolecular cyclization of amidine pronucleophiles on arylpropiolates. The reaction offers a robust route to heterocycle analogues of the fluorescent protein chromophores.

One-pot synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted pyrazoles from arylglycines via copper-catalyzed sydnone-alkyne cycloaddition reaction.

A robust method for constructing 1,4-pyrazoles from arylglycines was developed using the copper-catalyzed sydnone-alkyne cycloaddition reaction. The procedure offers a straightforward and general route to the pyrazole heterocycle through a three-step one-pot procedure.

4-Halogeno-sydnones for fast strain promoted cycloaddition with bicyclo-[6.1.0]-nonyne.

New sydnone derivatives have been synthesized and screened for their capacity to undergo fast copper-free cycloaddition reaction with bicyclo-[6.1.0]-nonyne. The influences of substitution in positions N-3 and C-4 of sydnones have been particularly studied leading to the identification of highly reactive partners for bio-orthogonal ligation reactions.

Synthetic studies on hemicalide: development of a convergent approach toward the C1-C25 fragment.

Synthetic studies on hemicalide, a recently isolated marine natural product displaying highly potent antiproliferative activity and a unique mode of action, have highlighted a reliable Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination to create the C6-C7 alkene and a remarkable efficient Suzuki-Miyaura coupling to form the C15-C16 bond, resulting in the development of a convergent approach toward the C1-C25 fragment.

A versatile and highly stereoselective access to vinyl triflates derived from 1,3-dicarbonyl and related compounds.

1,3-Dicarbonyl derivatives, such as 1,3-diketones, beta-ketoaldehydes, beta-ketoesters, beta-ketoamides, beta-ketophosphonates and beta-ketosulfones were efficiently converted to the corresponding Z vinyl triflates with high stereoselectivity. Precoordination with lithium triflate in dichloromethane and enolization with mild bases such as trialkylamines or DBU followed by trapping with triflic anhydride probably accounted for such high selectivity, achieved even at 0 degrees C. This method offers the first direct route to vinyl triflates from beta-ketoamides, beta-ketophosphonates and beta-ketosulfones.