A novel tetraazamacrocycle bearing a thiol pendant arm for labeling biomolecules with radiolanthanides.

The novel tetraazamacrocycle 10-(2-sulfanylethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (H(4)DO3ASH) was synthesized and characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, 2D NMR techniques and mass spectrometry. The protonation constants of H(4)DO3ASH were determined by potentiometry at 25 degrees C in 0.1 M KCl ionic strength, and the protonation sequence was assigned based on (1)H- and (13)C-NMR titrations. The stability constants of the DO3ASH complexes with Ce(3+), Sm(3+) and Ho(3+) have been determined by potentiometry and UV-Vis spectroscopy. They are very similar, comprising a narrow range (logK(ML) = 21.0-22.0). UV-Vis spectrophotometric data on Ce(3+)-DO3ASH and relaxivity measurements on the Gd(3+)-DO3ASH complex suggest that the thiol group does not coordinate to the metal, even in its deprotonated form. For labeling with radioactive lanthanides(iii), various conditions were tested and both complexes, (153)Sm/(166)Ho-DO3ASH, were obtained in quantitative yield (> 98%) at pH = 6. At room temperature, formation kinetics were faster for the (153)Sm than for the (166)Ho complex (5 vs. 60 min, respectively, needed for complete labeling). The stability of these hydrophilic complexes ((153)Sm, logD = -2.1; (166)Ho, logD = -1.6) has been studied in different buffers, in human serum and in the presence of excess of cysteine and glutathione. (153)Sm-DO3ASH has shown a high stability under these conditions and a relatively low protein binding (2.1%), while (166)Ho-DO3ASH was less stable, including in the presence of cysteine and glutathione, and had a slightly higher protein binding (6.7%). In vivo studies have been performed only for the more stable (153)Sm-DO3ASH complex and its biological profile and in vivo stability has been compared to that of (153)Sm-DO3A in the same animal model. The biodistribution profile presents a similar trend with rapid total excretion from the whole animal body, mainly via the urinary pathway. The most striking difference found is related to a slightly slower clearance of (153)Sm-DO3ASH from organs like blood, bone and muscle as compared to (153)Sm-DO3A. Additionally, the fraction of (153)Sm-DO3ASH taken by the hepatobiliar tract is also modestly higher than that of (153)Sm-DO3A.

A quinazoline-derivative DOTA-type gallium(III) complex for targeting epidermal growth factor receptors: synthesis, characterisation and biological studies.

The novel DOTA-like chelator 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1-{4-[(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)amino]quinazoline-6-yl}propionamide-4,7,10-triacetic acid (H(3)L) was synthesised by alkylation of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-tris(t-butyl acetate) with N-{4-[(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)amino]quinazoline-6-yl}-3-bromopropionamide, followed by hydrolysis of the ester groups with trifluoracetic acid. H(3)L has been fully characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Five protonation constants, log K (Hi ), of H(3)L were determined by potentiometry and UV-vis spectrophotometry and the values found are 10.47, 9.18, 5.24, 4.00 and 2.23. These methods, complemented with variable-pH (71)Ga NMR studies, allowed us to ascertain the stability constant of the Ga(III) complex of L. GaL has a remarkably high thermodynamic stability constant (log K (ML) = 24.5). The radioactive complex (67)GaL was prepared in high yield and high radiochemical purity. Its HPLC chromatogram is identical to that obtained for the GaL complex prepared at the macroscopic level. At pH 7.4, (67)GaL has an overall neutral charge, is highly hydrophilic (log D = -1.02 +/- 0.03) and presents high in vitro stability in physiological media and in the presence of an excess of diethylenetriaminepentaethanoic acid . In vitro studies indicated that H(3)L and GaL do not inhibit the cell growth of epidermal growth factor receptor expressing cell lines, such as A431 cervical carcinoma cells, a result which agrees with the very low cell internalisation found for (67)GaL in the same cell line. Biodistribution studies in mice indicated high in vivo stability for (67)GaL, a high total excretion rate and a relatively slow blood clearance, in full accordance with its hydrophilic character and the relatively important protein binding.