Cyclam with a phosphinate-bis(phosphonate) pendant arm is a bone-targeting carrier of copper radionuclides.

Ligands combining a bis(phosphonate) group with a macrocycle function as metal isotope carriers for radionuclide-based imaging and for treating bone metastases associated with several cancers. However, bis(phosphonate) pendant arms often slow down complex formation and decrease radiochemical yields. Nevertheless, their negative effect on complexation rates may be mitigated by using a suitable spacer between bis(phosphonate) and the macrocycle. To demonstrate the potential of bis(phosphonate) bearing macrocyclic ligands as a copper radioisotope carrier, we report the synthesis of a new cyclam derivative bearing a phosphinate-bis(phosphonate) pendant (H5te1PBP). The ligand showed a high selectivity to CuII over ZnII and NiII ions, and the bis(phosphonate) group was not coordinated in the CuII complex, strongly interacting with other metal ions in solution. The CuII complex formed quickly, in 1 s, at pH 5 and at a millimolar scale. The complexation rates significantly differed under a ligand or metal ion excess due to the formation of reaction intermediates differing in their metal-to-ligand ratio and protonation state, respectively. The CuII-te1PBP complex also showed a high resistance to acid-assisted hydrolysis (t1/2 2.7 h; 1 M HClO4, 25 °C) and was effectively adsorbed on the hydroxyapatite surface. H5te1PBP radiolabeling with [64Cu]CuCl2 was fast and efficient, with specific activities of approximately 30 GBq 64Cu per 1 µmol of ligand (pH 5.5, room temperature, 30 min). In a pilot experiment, we further demonstrated the excellent suitability of [64Cu]CuII-te1PBP for imaging active bone compartments by dedicated small animal PET/CT in healthy mice and subsequently in a rat femoral defect model, in direct comparison with [18F]fluoride. Moreover, [64Cu]CuII-te1PBP showed a higher uptake in critical bone defect regions. Therefore, our study highlights the potential of [64Cu]CuII-te1PBP as a PET radiotracer for evaluating bone healing in preclinical and clinical settings with a diagnostic value similar to that of [18F]fluoride, albeit with a longer half-life (12.7 h) than 18F (1.8 h), thereby enabling extended observation times.

Improved Conjugation, 64-Cu Radiolabeling, in Vivo Stability, and Imaging Using Nonprotected Bifunctional Macrocyclic Ligands: Bis(Phosphinate) Cyclam (BPC) Chelators.

Bifunctional derivatives of bis(phosphinate)-bearing cyclam (BPC) chelators bearing a carboxylate, amine, isothiocyanate, azide, or cyclooctyne in the BP side chain were synthesized. Conjugations required no protection of phosphinate or ring secondary amine groups. The ring amines were not reactive (proton protected) at pH < ∼8. For isothiocyanate coupling, oligopeptide N-terminal α-amines were more suitable than alkyl amines, e.g., Lys ω-amine (p Ka ∼7.5-8.5 and ∼10-11, respectively) due to lower basicity. The Cu-64 labeling was efficient at room temperature (specific activity ∼100 GBq/µmol; 25 °C, pH 6.2, ∼100 ligand equiv, 10 min). A representative Cu-64-BPC was tested in vivo showing fast clearance and no nonspecific radioactivity deposition. The monoclonal anti-PSCA antibody 7F5 conjugates with thiocyanate BPC derivative or NODAGA were radiolabeled and studied in PC3-PSCA tumor bearing mice by PET. The radiolabeled BPC conjugate was accumulated in the prostate tumor with a low off-target uptake, unlike Cu-64-labeled NODAGA-antibody conjugate. The BPC chelators have a great potential for theranostic applications of the Cu-64/Cu-67 matched pair.

A DOTA based bisphosphonate with an albumin binding moiety for delayed body clearance for bone targeting.

Radiolabeled bisphosphonates are commonly used in the diagnosis and therapy of bone metastases. Blood clearance of bisphosphonates is usually fast and only 30%-50% of the injected activity is retained in the skeleton, while most of the activity is excreted by the urinary tract. A longer blood circulation may enhance accumulation of bisphosphonate compounds in bone metastases. Therefore, a chemically modified macrocyclic bisphosphonate derivative with an additional human albumin binding entity was synthesized and pharmacokinetics of its complex was evaluated. The DOTA-bisphosphonate conjugate BPAMD was compared against the novel DOTAGA-derived albumin-binding bisphosphonate DOTAGA(428-d-Lys)MBP (L1). The ligands were labeled with 68Ga(III) and were evaluated in in vitro binding studies to hydroxyapatite (HA) as well as to human serum albumin. The compounds were finally compared in in vivo PET and ex vivo organ distribution studies in small animals over 6h. Binding studies revealed a consistent affinity of both bisphosphonate tracers to HA. Small animal PET and ex vivo organ distribution studies showed longer blood retention of [68Ga]L1. [68Ga]BPAMD is initially more efficiently bound to the bone but skeletal accumulation of the modified compound and [68Ga]BPAMD equalized at 6h p.i. Ratios of femur epiphyseal plate to ordinary bone showed to be more favorable for [68Ga]L1 than for [68Ga]BPAMD due to the longer circulation time of the new tracer. Thus, the chemical modification of BPAMD toward an albumin-binding bisphosphonate, L1, resulted in a novel PET tracer which conserves advantages of both functional groups within one and the same molecule. The properties of this new diagnostic tracer are expected to be preserved in 177Lu therapeutic agent with the same ligand (a theranostic pair).

(177)Lu-labelled macrocyclic bisphosphonates for targeting bone metastasis in cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic bone lesion is a common syndrome of many cancer diseases in an advanced state. The major symptom is severe pain, spinal cord compression, and pathological fracture, associated with an obvious morbidity. Common treatments including systemic application of bisphosphonate drugs aim on pain reduction and on improving the quality of life of the patient. Particularly, patients with multiple metastatic lesions benefit from bone-targeting therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Agents utilizing beta-emitting radionuclides in routine clinical praxis are, for example, [(89)Sr]SrCl2 and [(153)Sm]Sm-EDTMP. No-carrier-added (n.c.a.) (177)Lu is remarkably suitable for an application in this scope. METHODS: Five 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane N,N',N'',N''-tetra-acetic acid (DOTA)- and DO2A-based bisphosphonates, including monomeric and dimeric structures and one 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4-diacetic acid (NO2A) derivative, were synthesized and labelled with n.c.a. (177)Lu. Radio-TLC and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods were successfully established for determining radiochemical yields and for quality control. Their binding to hydroxyapatite was measured in vitro. Ex vivo biodistribution experiments and dynamic in vivo single photon computed tomography (SPECT)/CT measurements were performed in healthy rats for 5 min and 1 h periods. Data on %ID/g or standard uptake value (SUV) for femur, blood, and soft-tissue organs were analyzed and compared with [(177)Lu]citrate. RESULTS: Radiolabelling yields for [(177)Lu]Lu-DOTA and [(177)Lu]Lu-NO2A monomeric bisphosphonate complexes were >98 % within 15 min. The dimeric macrocyclic bisphosphonates showed a decelerated labelling kinetics, reaching a plateau after 30 min of 60 to 90 % radiolabelling yields. All (177)Lu-bisphosphonate complexes showed exclusive accumulation in the skeleton. Blood clearance and renal elimination were fast. SUV data (all for 1 h p.i.) in the femur ranged from 3.34 to 5.67. The bone/blood ratios were between 3.6 and 135.6, correspondingly. (177)Lu-bisphosphonate dimers showed a slightly higher bone accumulation (SUVfemur = 4.48 ± 0.38 for [(177)Lu]Lu-DO2A(P(BP))2; SUVfemur = 5.41 ± 0.46 for [(177)Lu]Lu-DOTA(M(BP))2) but a slower blood clearance (SUVblood = 1.25 ± 0.09 for [(177)Lu]Lu-DO2A(P(BP))2; SUVblood = 1.43 ± 0.32 for [(177)Lu]Lu-DOTA(M(BP))2). CONCLUSIONS: Lu-complexes of macrocyclic bisphosphonates might become options for the therapy of skeletal metastases in the near future, since they show high uptake in bone together with a very low soft-tissue accumulation.

Gallium(III) complexes of NOTA-bis (phosphonate) conjugates as PET radiotracers for bone imaging.

Ligands with geminal bis(phosphonic acid) appended to 1,4,7-triazacyclonone-1,4-diacetic acid fragment through acetamide (NOTAM(BP) ) or methylenephosphinate (NO2AP(BP) ) spacers designed for (68) Ga were prepared. Ga(III) complexation is much faster for ligand with methylenephosphinate spacer than that with acetamide one, in both chemical (high reactant concentrations) and radiolabeling studies with no-carrier-added (68) Ga. For both ligands, formation of Ga(III) complex was slower than that with NOTA owing to the strong out-of-cage binding of bis(phosphonate) group. Radiolabeling was efficient and fast only above 60 °C and in a narrow acidity region (pH ~3). At higher temperature, hydrolysis of amide bond of the carboxamide-bis(phosphonate) conjugate was observed during complexation reaction leading to Ga-NOTA complex. In vitro sorption studies confirmed effective binding of the (68) Ga complexes to hydroxyapatite being comparable with that found for common bis(phosphonate) drugs such as pamindronate. Selective bone uptake was confirmed in healthy rats by biodistribution studies ex vivo and by positron emission tomography imaging in vivo. Bone uptake was very high, with SUV (standardized uptake value) of 6.19 ± 1.27 for [(68) Ga]NO2AP(BP) ) at 60 min p.i., which is superior to uptake of (68) Ga-DOTA-based bis(phosphonates) and [(18) F]NaF reported earlier (SUV of 4.63 ± 0.38 and SUV of 4.87 ± 0.32 for [(68) Ga]DO3AP(BP) and [(18) F]NaF, respectively, at 60 min p.i.). Coincidently, accumulation in soft tissue is generally low (e.g. for kidneys SUV of 0.26 ± 0.09 for [(68) Ga]NO2AP(BP) at 60 min p.i.), revealing the new (68) Ga complexes as ideal tracers for noninvasive, fast and quantitative imaging of calcified tissue and for metastatic lesions using PET or PET/CT.

Phosphonate-titanium dioxide assemblies: platform for multimodal diagnostic-therapeutic nanoprobes.

Multimodal imaging-therapeutic nanoprobe TiO(2)@RhdGd was prepared and successfully used for in vitro and in vivo cell tracking as well as for killing of cancer cells in vitro. TiO(2) nanoparticles were used as a core for phosphonic acid modified functionalities, responsible for contrast in MRI and optical imaging. The probe shows high (1)H relaxivity and relaxivity density values. Presence of fluorescent dye allows for visualization by means of fluorescence microscopy. The applicability of the probe was studied, using mesenchymal stem cells, cancer HeLa cells, and T-lymphocytes. The probe did not exhibit toxicity in any of these systems. Labeled cells were successfully visualized in vitro by means of fluorescence microscopy and MRI. Furthermore, it was shown that the probe TiO(2)@RhdGd can be changed into a cancer cell killer upon UV light irradiation. The above stated results represent a valuable proof of a principle showing applicability of the probe design for diagnosis and therapy.

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of In(III) complexes anchored by DOTA-like chelators bearing a quinazoline moiety.

Following previous studies with a DOTA-like bifunctional chelator (H(3)L1) containing an ethylenic linker between the macrocycle backbone and a quinazoline pharmacophore, we synthesized and fully characterized a congener macrocyclic ligand (H(3)L2) having a longer, five-carbon spacer for the linkage of the quinazoline moiety. Both H(3)L1 and H(3)L2 were used to prepare indium(III) complexes aiming at their evaluation as radioactive probes for in vivo targeting of EGFR-TK. The protonation constants (log K(Hi)) of H(3)L2 were determined by potentiometry and UV-Vis spectrophotometry and the values found are 12.18, 9.74, 4.99, 3.91 and 2.53. The stability and protonation constants of InL (L = L1, L2) were also obtained from a combined potentiometry and UV-VIS spectrophotometry study. The reaction of InCl(3) with H(3)L1 and H(3)L2 led to the formation of the well-defined complexes InL1 and InL2, containing In(iii) ions coordinated by a seven (N(4),O(3)) donor atom set. These new complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, NMR, ESI-MS), HPLC and by X-ray diffraction analysis in the case of InL1. The radioactive congener (111)InL2 was prepared from the reaction of (111)In-chloride with H(3)L2, in high yield and high radiochemical purity. (111)InL2 is a neutral complex that presents a hydrophilic character and exhibits a high in vitro and in vivo stability. H(3)L2 and InL2 do not inhibit the cell growth of A431 cervical carcinoma cells. In this EGFR-expressing cell line, (111)InL2 has shown very low cell internalization. These findings indicate that these DOTA-like chelators are not the best suited bifunctional ligands to obtain In(iii) complexes with adequate biological properties for targeting the EGFR-TK.

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.

Gd(iii) complex of a monophosphinate-bis(phosphonate) DOTA analogue with a high relaxivity; Lanthanide(iii) complexes for imaging and radiotherapy of calcified tissues.

A new phosphinic-acid DOTA-like ligand, DO3AP(BP), containing a geminal bis(phosphonic acid) moiety as a highly effective bone-seeking group, was synthesized in high yield. Its crystal structure was determined by X-ray analysis. Complexation with lanthanide(iii) ions occurs under mild conditions (pH = 8-9, 25 degrees C, 2-3 h). (1)H, (31)P, and (17)O NMR spectroscopy show that DO3AP(BP) forms nine-coordinated lanthanide(iii) complexes with one water molecule in the first coordination sphere except for Ln = Er-Lu, which have in addition a species without lanthanide(iii)-bound water. Selective formation of only two diastereomers (out of four possible) suggests that the coordinated phosphinate phosphorus atom occurs exclusively in one of the enantiomeric forms. The ratio of the twisted square antiprism (TSA) and square antiprism (SA) diastereomers changes along the lanthanide series; the gadolinium(iii) complex has about 35% of the TSA species. The bis(phosphonate) moiety remains free for anchoring to osseous tissue. The (1)H longitudinal relaxivity of the Gd-DO3AP(BP) complex (r(1) = 7.4 s(-1) mM(-1), 20 MHz, 25 degrees C, pH = 7.5) is unexpectedly high compared to that of other monohydrated chelates of similar size thanks to a significant contribution from the second hydration sphere. The water residence time tau(M)(298) is 198 ns. Further increase in the relaxivity was observed in the presence of Zn(ii), Mg(ii) or Ca(ii) ions, due to formation of coordination polymers. Slowing down of the tumbling rate of the Gd-DO3AP(BP) complex upon adsorption on hydroxyapatite also leads to an increase of the relaxivity (r(1) = 17 s(-1) mM(-1), 20 MHz, 25 degrees C, pH = 7.5).

Lanthanide(III) complexes of bis(phosphonate) monoamide analogues of DOTA: bone-seeking agents for imaging and therapy.

Lanthanide complexes of DOTA derivatives 2a (BPAMD) and 2b (BPAPD), having a monoamide pendant arm with a bis(phosphonate) moiety, were comparatively tested for application in MRI, radiotherapy, and bone pain palliation. (1)H, (31)P, and (17)O NMR spectroscopy show that they are nine-coordinated, with one water molecule in the first coordination sphere of the Ln(III) ion. The bis(phosphonate) moieties are not coordinated to the lanthanide and predominantly mono- and diprotonated at physiological pH. The parameters governing the longitudinal relaxivities of the Gd complexes are similar to those of other monoamides of DOTA reported in the literature. Upon adsorption on hydroxyapatite, the relaxivities at 20 MHz and 25 degrees C of Gd-2a and Gd-2b were 22.1 and 11 s(-1) mM(-1), respectively. An in vivo gamma-ray imaging study showed that the (177)Lu complexes of 2a and 2b have a high affinity for bones, particularly for growth plates and teeth with a prolonged retention.