Optimization of a Nucleophilic Two-Step Radiosynthesis of 6-O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-6-O-desmethyl-diprenorphine ([18F]FE-DPN) for PET Imaging of Brain Opioid Receptors.

We have established a method for nucleophilic one-pot, two-step radiosynthesis of the popular opioid receptor radioligand 6-O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-6-O-desmethyl-diprenorphine ([18F]FE-DPN) from the novel precursor 6-O-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-6-O-desmethyl- 3-O-trityl-diprenorphine (TE-TDDPN), which we designate as the Henriksen precursor. We undertook an optimization of the synthesis conditions, aiming to enhance the accessibility of [18F]FE-DPN for positron emission tomography (PET) studies of µ-opioid receptors. Herein, we report an optimized direct nucleophilic 18F-fluorination and the deprotection conditions for a fully automated radiosynthesis of [18F]FE-DPN on a modified GE Tracerlab FX FE synthesis panel. Starting from 1-1.5 GBq of [18F]fluoride and applying an Oasis Max 1cc cartridge for fluorine-18 trapping with a reduced amount of K2CO3 (5.06 µmol K+ ion), [18F]FE-DPN ([18F]11) was produced with 44.5 ± 10.6 RCY (decay-corrected), high radiochemical purity (>99%), and a molar activity of 32.2 ± 11.8 GBq/µmol in 60-65 min.

Investigation of the Effect on the Albumin Binding Moiety for the Pharmacokinetic Properties of 68Ga-, 205/206Bi-, and 177Lu-Labeled NAPamide-Based Radiopharmaceuticals.

Although radiolabeled alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone-analogue NAPamide derivatives are valuable melanoma-specific diagnostic probes, their rapid elimination kinetics and high renal uptake may preclude them from being used in clinical settings. We aimed at improving the pharmacokinetics of radiolabeled DOTA-NAPamide compounds by incorporating a 4-(p-iodo-phenyl)-butanoic acid (IPB) into the molecules. Followed by 68Ga-, 205/206Bi-, and 177Lu-labelling, the radiopharmaceuticals ([68Ga]Ga-DOTA-IPB-NAPamide, [205/206Bi]Bi-DOTA-IPB-NAPamide, [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-IPB-NAPamide) were characterized in vitro. To test the imaging behavior of the IPB-containing probes, B16F10 tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice were subjected to in vivo microPET/microSPECT/CT imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies. All tracers were stable in vitro, with radiochemical purity exceeding 98%. The use of albumin-binding moiety lengthened the in vivo biological half-life of the IPB-carrying radiopharmaceuticals, resulting in elevated tumor accumulation. Both [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-IPB-NAPamide (5.06 ± 1.08 %ID/g) and [205/206Bi]Bi-DOTA-IPB-NAPamide (4.50 ± 0.98 %ID/g) exhibited higher B16F10 tumor concentrations than their matches without the albumin-binding residue ([68Ga]Ga-DOTA-NAPamide and [205/206Bi]Bi-DOTA-NAPamide: 1.18 ± 0.27 %ID/g and 3.14 ± 0.32; respectively), however; the large amounts of off-target radioactivity do not confirm the benefits of half-life extension for short-lived isotopes. Enhanced [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-IPB-NAPamide tumor uptake even 24 h post-injection proved the advantage of IPB-based prolonged circulation time regarding long-lived radionuclides, although the significant background noise must be addressed in this case as well.

Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of 213Bi-labelled DOTA-conjugated alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone peptide analogues in melanocortin-1 receptor positive preclinical melanoma model.

Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1-R) targeting alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone-analogue (α-MSH) biomolecules labelled with α-emitting radiometal seem to be valuable in the targeted radionuclide therapy of MC1-R positive melanoma malignum (MM). Herein is reported the anti-tumor in vivo therapeutic evaluation of MC1-R-affine [213Bi]Bi-DOTA-NAPamide and HOLDamide treatment in MC1-R positive B16-F10 melanoma tumor-bearing C57BL/6J mice. On the 6th, 8th and 10th days post tumor cell inoculation; the treated groups of mice were intravenously injected with approximately 5 MBq of both amide derivatives. Beyond body weight and tumor volume assessment, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-HOLDamide and NAPamide-based PET/MRI scans, and ex vivo biodistribution studies were executed 30,- and 90 min postinjection. In the PET/MRI imaging studies the B16-F10 tumors were clearly visualized with both 68Ga-labelled tracers, however, significantly lower tumor-to-muscle (T/M) ratios were observed by using [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-HOLDamide. After alpha-radiotherapy treatment the tumor size of the control group was larger relative to both treated cohorts, while the smallest tumor volumes were observed in the NAPamide-treated subclass on the 10th day. Relatively higher [213Bi]Bi-DOTA-NAPamide accumulation in the B16-F10 tumors (%ID/g: 2.71 ± 0.15) with discrete background activity led to excellent T/M ratios, particularly 90 min postinjection. Overall, the therapeutic application of receptor selective [213Bi]Bi-DOTA-NAPamide seems to be feasible in MC1-R positive MM management.

Rigid H4OCTAPA derivatives as model chelators for the development of Bi(III)-based radiopharmaceuticals.

Octadentate ligands containing ethyl (H4OCTAPA), cyclohexyl (H4CHXOCTAPA) or cyclopentyl (H4CpOCTAPA) spacers were assessed as chelators for Bi(III)-based radiopharmaceuticals. The H4CHXOCTAPA chelator displays excellent properties, including 205/206Bi-nuclide radiolabelling under mild conditions, excellent stability in serum and in the presence of competing cations or H5DTPA. The poor performance of H4CpOCTAPA appears to be related to the stereochemical activity of the Bi(III) lone pair.

In Vivo evaluation of newly synthesized 213Bi-conjugated alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) peptide analogues in melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1-R) positive experimental melanoma model.

Given the rising pervasiveness of melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1-R) positive melanoma malignum (MM) and pertinent metastases, radiolabelled receptor-affine alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone-analogue (α-MSH analogue) imaging probes would be of crucial importance in timely tumor diagnostic assessment. Herein we aimed at investigating the biodistribution and the MM targeting potential of newly synthesized 213Bi-conjugated MC1-R specific peptide-based radioligands with the establishment of MC1-R overexpressing MM preclinical model. DOTA-conjugated NAP, -HOLD, -FOLD, -and MARSamide were labelled with 213Bi. Ex vivo biodistribution studies were conducted post-administration of 3.81 ± 0.32 MBq [213Bi]Bi-DOTA conjugated deriva-tives into twenty B16-F10 tumor-bearing C57BL/6 J and healthy mice. Organ Level Internal Dose Assessment (OLINDA) and IDAC-Dose were used to calculate translational data-based absorbed radiation dose in human organs. Moderate or low %ID/g uptake of [213Bi]Bi-DOTA conjugated NAP, -HOLD, -and MARSamide and significantly increased [213Bi]Bi-DOTA-FOLDamide accumulation was observed in the thoracic and abdominal organs (p ≤ 0.01). High [213Bi]Bi-DOTA-NAP (%ID/g:3.76 ± 0.96), -and FOLDamide (%ID/g:3.28 ± 0.95) tumor tracer activity confirmed their MC1-R-affinity. The bladder wall received the highest radiation absorbed dose followed by the kidneys (bladder wall: 1.95·10-2 and 8.97·10-2 mSv/MBq; kidneys: 7.47·10-3 vs. 5.88·10-2 mSv/MBq measured by IDAC and OLINDA; respectively) indicating the suitability of the NAPamide derivative for clinical use. These novel [213Bi]Bi-DOTA-linked peptide probes displaying meaningful MC1-R affinity could be promising molecular probes in MM imaging.

Therapeutic Performance Evaluation of 213Bi-Labelled Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13)-Affine NGR-Motif ([213Bi]Bi-DOTAGA-cKNGRE) in Experimental Tumour Model: A Treasured Tailor for Oncology.

Since NGR-tripeptides (asparagine-glycine-arginine) selectively target neoangiogenesis-associated Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) on cancer cells, we aimed to evaluate the in vivo tumour targeting capability of radiolabelled, NGR-containing, ANP/CD13-selective [213Bi]Bi-DOTAGA-cKNGRE in CD13pos. HT1080 fibrosarcoma-bearing severe combined immunodeficient CB17 mice. 10 ± 1 days after cancer cell inoculation, positron emission tomography (PET) was performed applying [68Ga]Ga-DOTAGA-cKNGRE for tumour verification. On the 7th, 8th, 10th and 12th days the treated group of tumourous mice were intraperitoneally administered with 4.68 ± 0.10 MBq [213Bi]Bi-DOTAGA-cKNGRE, while the untreated tumour-bearing animals received 150 µL saline solution. In addition to body weight (BW) and tumour volume measurements, ex vivo biodistribution studies were conducted 30 and 90 min postinjection (pi.). The following quantitative standardised uptake values (SUV) confirmed the detectability of the HT1080 tumours: SUVmean and SUVmax: 0.37 ± 0.09 and 0.86 ± 0.14, respectively. Although no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) was encountered between the BW of the treated and untreated mice, their tumour volumes measured on the 9th, 10th and 12th days differed significantly (p ≤ 0.01). Relatively higher [213Bi]Bi-DOTAGA-cKNGRE accumulation of the HT1080 neoplasms (%ID/g: 0.80 ± 0.16) compared with the other organs at 90 min time point yields better tumour-to-background ratios. Therefore, the therapeutic application of APN/CD13-affine [213Bi]Bi-DOTAGA- cKNGRE seems to be promising in receptor-positive fibrosarcoma treatment.

AAZTA-Like Ligands Bearing Phenolate Arms as Efficient Chelators for 68 Ga Labelling in†vitro and in†vivo.

The introduction of a phenolate pendant arm in place of an acetate on AAZTA- and DATA-like ligands resulted in hepta- and hexadentate chelators able to form Ga(III) complexes with thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness higher than that of other Ga(III) complexes based on the parent 6-amino-6-methylperhydro-1,4-diazepine scaffold. In particular, the heptadentate AAZ3A-endoHB with a phenolate arm on an endocyclic N-atom shows a logKGaL of 27.35 and a remarkable resistance to hydroxide coordination up to basic pH (pH>9). This behaviour allows to also improve the kinetic inertness of the complex showing a dissociation half-life (t1/2 ) at pH 7.4 of 76 h. Although also the hexadentate AAZ2A-exoHB chelator forms a stable (logKGaL =24.69) and inert (t1/2 =33 h at pH 7.4) Ga(III) complex, the 68 Ga labelling showed a better radiochemical yield with AAZ3A-endoHB, especially at room temperature. Thus, a bifunctional chelator of AAZ3A-endoHB was synthesized bearing an isothiocyanate group that was conjugated to the N-terminus of a c(RGD) peptide for integrin receptor targeting. Finally, the conjugate was successfully labelled with 68 Ga isotope, and the resulting radiotracer tested for its stability in human serum and then in vivo for targeting B16-F10 tumours with miniPET imaging.

61Cu-Labelled radiodiagnostics of melanoma with NAPamide-targeted radiopharmaceutical.

Malignant melanoma is a major public health problem with an increasing incidence and mortality in the Caucasian population due to its significant metastatic potential. The early detection of this cancer type by imaging techniques like positron emission tomography acts as an important contributor to the long-term survival. Based on literature data, the radio labelled alpha-MSH analog NAPamide molecule is an appropriate diagnostic tool for the detection of melanoma tumors. Inspired by these facts, a new radiotracer, the [61Cu]Cu-KFTG-NAPamide has been synthesized to exploit the beneficial features of the positron emitter 61Cu and the melanoma specificity of the NAPamide molecule. In this work, we report a new member of the CB-15aneN5 ligand family (KFTG) as the chelator for 61Cu(II) complexation. On the basis of the thorough physico-chemical characterization, the rigid [Cu(KFTG)]+ complex exhibits fast complex formation (t1/2 = 155 s at pH 5.0 and 25 °C) and high inertness (t1/2 = 2.0 h in 5.0 M HCl at 50 °C) as well as moderate superoxide dismutase activity (IC50 = 2.3 µM). Furthermore, the [61Cu]Cu-KFTG-NAPamide possesses outstanding features in the diagnostics of B16-F10 melanoma tumors by PET imaging: (T/M(SUVs) (in vivo): appr. 14, %ID/g: 7 ± 1 and T/M (ex vivo): 315 ± 24 at 180 min).

The Synthesis and Preclinical Investigation of Lactosamine-Based Radiopharmaceuticals for the Detection of Galectin-3-Expressing Melanoma Cells.

Given that galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a ß-galactoside-binding lectin promoting tumor growth and metastatis, it could be a valuable target for the treatment of Gal-3-expressing neoplasms. An aromatic group introduced to the C-3' position of lactosamine increased its affinity for Gal-3. Herein, we aimed at developing a radiopharmaceutical for the detection of Gal-3 positive malignancies. To enhance tumor specificity, a heterodimeric radiotracer capable of binding to both Gal-3 and αvß3 integrin was also synthetized. Arginine-glycine-asparagine (RGD) peptide is the ligand of angiogenesis- and metastasis-associated αvß3 integrin. Following the synthesis of the chelator-conjugated (2-naphthyl)methylated lactosamine, the obtained compound was applied as a precursor for radiolabeling and was conjugated to the RGD peptide by click reaction as well. Both synthetized precursors were radiolabeled with 68Ga, resulting in high labeling yield (>97). The biological studies were carried out using B16F10 melanoma tumor-bearing C57BL6 mice. High tumor accumulation of both labeled lactosamine derivatives­detected by in vivo PET and ex vivo biodistribution studies­indicated their potential for melanoma detection. However, the heterodimer radiotracer showed high hepatic uptake, while low liver accumulation characterized chelator-conjugated lactosamine, resulting in PET images with excellent contrast. Therefore, this novel carbohydrate-based radiotracer is suitable for the highly selective determination of Gal-3-expressing melanoma cells.

PET Probes for Preclinical Imaging of GRPR-Positive Prostate Cancer: Comparative Preclinical Study of [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-AMBA and [44Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA.

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPR) are overexpressed in prostate cancer (PCa). Since bombesin analogue aminobenzoic-acid (AMBA) binds to GRPR with high affinity, scandium-44 conjugated AMBA is a promising radiotracer in the PET diagnostics of GRPR positive tumors. Herein, the GRPR specificity of the newly synthetized [44Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA was investigated in vitro and in vivo applying PCa PC-3 xenograft. After the in-vitro assessment of receptor binding, PC-3 tumor-bearing mice were injected with [44Sc]Sc/[68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-AMBA (in blocking studies with bombesin) and in-vivo PET examinations were performed to determine the radiotracer uptake in standardized uptake values (SUV). 44Sc/68Ga-labelled NODAGA-AMBA was produced with high molar activity (approx. 20 GBq/µmoL) and excellent radiochemical purity. The in-vitro accumulation of [44Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA in PC-3 cells was approximately 25-fold higher than that of the control HaCaT cells. Relatively higher uptake was found in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo in the same tumor with the 44Sc-labelled probe compared to [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-AMBA. The GRPR specificity of [44Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA was confirmed by significantly (p ≤ 0.01) decreased %ID and SUV values in PC-3 tumors after bombesin pretreatment. The outstanding binding properties of the novel [44Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA to GRPR outlines its potential to be a valuable radiotracer in the imaging of GRPR-positive PCa.

Synthesis, Physicochemical, Labeling and In Vivo Characterization of 44Sc-Labeled DO3AM-NI as a Hypoxia-Sensitive PET Probe.

Hypoxia promotes angiogenesis, which is crucial for tumor growth, and induces malignant progression and increases the therapeutic resistance. Positron emission tomography (PET) enables the detection of the hypoxic regions in tumors using 2-nitroimidazole-based radiopharmaceuticals. We describe here a physicochemical study of the Sc(DO3AM-NI) complex, which indicates: (a) relatively slow formation of the Sc(DO3AM-NI) chelate in acidic solution; (b) lower thermodynamic stability than the reference Sc(DOTA); (c) however, it is substantially more inert and consequently can be regarded as an excellent Sc-binder system. In addition, we report a comparison of 44Sc-labeled DO3AM-NI with its known 68Ga-labeled analog as a hypoxia PET probe. The in vivo and ex vivo biodistributions of 44Sc- and 68Ga-labeled DO3AM-NI in healthy and KB tumor-bearing SCID mice were examined 90 and 240 min after intravenous injection. No significant difference was found between the accumulation of 44Sc- and 68Ga-labeled DO3AM-NI in KB tumors. However, a significantly higher accumulation of [68Ga]Ga(DO3AM-NI) was found in liver, spleen, kidney, intestine, lung, heart and brain than for [44Sc]Sc(DO3AM-NI), leading to a lower tumor/background ratio. The tumor-to-muscle (T/M) ratio of [44Sc]Sc(DO3AM-NI) was approximately 10-15-fold higher than that of [68Ga]Ga(DO3AM-NI) at all time points. Thus, [44Sc]Sc(DO3AM-NI) allows the visualization of KB tumors with higher resolution, making it a promising hypoxia-specific PET radiotracer.

Diels-Alder Adducts of Morphinan-6,8-Dienes and Their Transformations.

6,14-ethenomorphinans are semisynthetic opiate derivatives containing an ethylene bridge between positions 6 and 14 in ring-C of the morphine skeleton that imparts a rigid molecular structure. These compounds represent an important family of opioid receptor ligands in which the 6,14-etheno bridged structural motif originates from a [4 + 2] cycloaddition of morphinan-6,8-dienes with dienophiles. Certain 6,14-ethenomorphinans having extremely high affinity for opioid receptors are often non-selective for opioid receptor subtypes, but this view is now undergoing some revision. The agonist 20R-etorphine and 20R-dihydroetorphine are several thousand times more potent analgesics than morphine, whereas diprenorphine is a high-affinity non-selective antagonist. The partial agonist buprenorphine is used as an analgesic in the management of post-operative pain or in substitution therapy for opiate addiction, sometimes in combination with the non-selective antagonist naloxone. In the context of the current opioid crisis, we communicated a summary of several decades of work toward generating opioid analgesics with lesser side effects or abuse potential. Our summary placed a focus on Diels-Alder reactions of morphinan-6,8-dienes and subsequent transformations of the cycloadducts. We also summarized the pharmacological aspects of radiolabeled 6,14-ethenomorphinans used in molecular imaging of opioid receptors.

Methods for the Determination of Transition Metal Impurities in Cyclotron-Produced Radiometals.

Cyclotron-produced radiometals must be separated from the irradiated target and purified from other metal impurities, which could interfere with the radiolabeling process. We compared different chromatographic and colorimetric methods to determine the amount of transition metals in radioactive samples. Besides commercially available colorimetric tests, 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol and xylenol orange were used as a non-selective metal reagents, forming water-soluble chelates with most of the transition metals immediately. We compared the applicability of pre- and post-column derivatization, as well as colorimetric determination without separation. The studied chromatographic and colorimetric analyses are not suitable to completely replace atomic spectroscopic techniques for the determination of metal contaminants in radioactive samples, but they may play an important role in the development of methods for the purification of radiometals and in their routine quality control.

A New Oxygen Containing Pyclen-Type Ligand as a Manganese(II) Binder for MRI and 52Mn PET Applications: Equilibrium, Kinetic, Relaxometric, Structural and Radiochemical Studies.

A new pyclen-3,9-diacetate derivative ligand (H23,9-OPC2A) was synthesized possessing an etheric O-atom opposite to the pyridine ring, to improve the dissociation kinetics of its Mn(II) complex (pyclen = 3,6,9,15-tetraazabicyclo(9.3.1)pentadeca-1(15),11,13-triene). The new ligand is less basic than the N-containing analogue (H23,9-PC2A) due to the non-protonable O-atom. In spite of its lower basicity, the conditional stability of the [Mn(3,9-OPC2A)] (pMn = -log(Mn(II)), cL = cMn(II) = 0.01 mM. pH = 7.4) remains unaffected (pMn = 8.69), compared to the [Mn(3,9-PC2A)] (pMn = 8.64). The [Mn(3,9-OPC2A)] possesses one water molecule, having a lower exchange rate with bulk solvents (kex298 = 5.3 ± 0.4 × 107 s-1) than [Mn(3,9-PC2A)] (kex298 = 1.26 × 108 s-1). These mild differences are rationalized by density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. The acid assisted dissociation of [Mn(3,9-OPC2A)] is considerably slower (k1 = 2.81 ± 0.07 M-1 s-1) than that of the complexes of diacetates or bisamides of various 12-membered macrocycles and the parent H23,9-PC2A. The [Mn(3,9-OPC2A)] is inert in rat/human serum as confirmed by 52Mn labeling (nM range), as well as by relaxometry (mM range). However, a 600-fold excess of EDTA (pH = 7.4) or a mixture of essential metal ions, propagated some transchelation/transmetalation in 7 days. The H23,9-OPC2A is labeled efficiently with 52Mn at elevated temperatures, yet at 37 °C the parent H23,9-PC2A performs slightly better. Ultimately, the H23,9-OPC2A shows advantageous features for further ligand designs for bifunctional chelators.

Synthesis of 68Ga-Labeled cNGR-Based Glycopeptides and In Vivo Evaluation by PET Imaging.

Tumor hypoxia induces angiogenesis, which is required for tumor cell survival. The aminopeptidase N receptor (APN/CD13) is an excellent marker of angiogenesis since it is overexpressed in angiogenic blood vessels and in tumor cells. Asparagine-glycine-arginine (NGR) peptide analogs bind selectively to the APN/CD13 recepto, therefore, they are important vector molecules in the development of a PET radiotracer which is capable of detecting APN-rich tumors. To investigate the effect of glycosylation and pegylation on in-vivo efficacy of an NGR-based radiotracer, two 68Ga-labeled radioglycopeptides were synthesized. A lactosamine derivative was applied to glycosylation of the NGR derivative and PEG4 moiety was used for pegylation. The receptor targeting potential and biodistribution of the radiopeptides were evaluated with in vivo PET imaging studies and ex vivo tissue distribution studies using B16-F10 melanoma tumor-bearing mice. According to these studies, all synthesized radiopeptides were capable of detecting APN expression in B16-F10 melanoma tumor. In addition, lower hepatic uptake, higher tumor-to background (T/M) ratio and prolonged circulation time were observed for the novel [68Ga]-10 radiotracer due to pegylation and glycosylation, resulting in more contrasting PET imaging. These in vivo PET imaging results correlated well with the ex vivo tissue distribution data.

Synthesis of Novel, Dual-Targeting 68Ga-NODAGA-LacN-E[c(RGDfK)]2 Glycopeptide as a PET Imaging Agent for Cancer Diagnosis.

Radiolabeled peptides possessing an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif are widely used radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging of tumor angiogenesis due to their high affinity and selectivity to αvß3 integrin. This receptor is overexpressed in tumor and tumor endothelial cells in the case of numerous cancer cell lines, therefore, it is an excellent biomarker for cancer diagnosis. The galectin-3 protein is also highly expressed in tumor cells and N-acetyllactosamine is a well-established ligand of this receptor. We have developed a synthetic method to prepare a lactosamine-containing radiotracer, namely 68Ga-NODAGA-LacN-E[c(RGDfK)]2, for cancer diagnosis. First, a lactosamine derivative with azido-propyl aglycone was synthetized. Then, NODAGA-NHS was attached to the amino group of this lactosamine derivative. The obtained compound was conjugated to an E[c(RGDfK)]2 peptide with a strain-promoted click reaction. We have accomplished the radiolabeling of the synthetized NODAGA-LacN-E[c(RGDfK)]2 precursor with a positron-emitting 68Ga isotope (radiochemical yield of >95%). The purification of the labeled compound with solid-phase extraction resulted in a radiochemical purity of >99%. Subsequently, the octanol-water partition coefficient (log P) of the labeled complex was determined to be -2.58. In addition, the in vitro stability of 68Ga-NODAGA-LacN-E[c(RGDfK)]2 was investigated and it was found that it was stable under the examined conditions.

Shape and Size Tuning of BiIII-Centered Polyoxopalladates: High Resolution 209Bi NMR and 205/206Bi Radiolabeling for Potential Pharmaceutical Applications.

We have discovered five bismuth(III)-containing polyoxopalladates (POPs) which were fully characterized by solution and solid-state physicochemical techniques: the cube-shaped [BiPd12O32(AsPh)8]5- (BiPd12AsL), [BiPd12O32(AsC6H4N3)8]5- (BiPd12AsLN), and [BiPd12O32(AsC6H4COO)8]13- (BiPd12AsLC) as well as the star-shaped [BiPd15O40(PO)10H6]11- (BiPd15P) and [BiPd15O40(PPh)10]7- (BiPd15PL), respectively. The organically modified capping groups phenylarsonate, p-azidophenylarsonate, and p-carboxyphenylarsonate were chosen as the azido (-N3) and carboxyl (-COOH) groups open up opportunities to covalently conjugate (via click reaction, amide coupling, etc.) with targeting vectors. The synthesis of p-azidophenylarsonate is reported here for the first time. The effects of the BiIII template and the organoarsonate vs -posphonate capping groups on the resulting POP shape (cube vs star) are discussed. The 209Bi NMR (I = 9/2) spectra of BiPd12AsL, BiPd12AsLN, and BiPd12AsLC revealed narrow peaks (ν1/2 ∼ 200 Hz) at 5470 ppm with a longitudinal relaxation time in the millisecond range (at 8.46 T). The absence of a quadrupolar relaxation contribution could be attributed to the allocation of BiIII in the highly symmetrical cuboid POP host cage. Similar peaks were absent in the 209Bi-NMR spectra of the star-shaped POPs BiPd15P and BiPd15PL due to the less symmetric coordination environment around the central BiIII ion. Further, 205/206Bi-radiolabeled POPs have been synthesized by incorporating a 205/206BiIII ion in the center of the POP structures. Carrier-free 205/206Bi radioisotopes (as surrogates of α-emitting 213Bi) were incorporated into the POP host-cage for the preparation of 205/206BiPd12AsL, 205/206BiPd12AsLN, 205/206BiPd12AsLC, and 205/206BiPd15PL, respectively. The radiometal incorporation was complete (>99% radiochemical yield) in 10 min according to radio-thin-layer chromatography. The 205/206BiPd12AsL polyanion was purified by solid-phase extraction. The incubation in rat serum showed the formation of a 205/206BiPd12AsL-protein aggregate.

Radiosynthesis and Preclinical Investigation of 11 C-Labelled 3-(4,5-Diphenyl-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)propanal Oxime ([11 C]SZV 1287).

The radiosynthesis, as well as the in vivo and ex vivo biodistribution of the 11 C radiolabelled 3-(4,5-diphenyl-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)propanal oxime (6, [11 C]SZV 1287) are reported. SZV 1287 is a novel semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) inhibitor and a promising candidate to be a novel analgesic for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Its radiolabelling was developed via a four-step radiosynthesis which started from the reaction of a Grignard reagent with [11 C]CO2 to produce [11 C]oxaprozin (3). In the next step this carboxylic acid 3 was directly reduced to yield the corresponding aldehyde, which was then converted into the oxime. [11 C]SZV 1287 was administered to male NMRI mice. The animals were examined with dynamic PET/MR imaging for 90 minutes. Biodistribution studies were performed at 10, 30, 60 and 120 minutes post injection. The accumulation of the labelled compound was observed in the brain of the animals. The main excretion pathway was found to be through the liver and intestines. These studies provide preliminary information for pharmacokinetic characterization of the SZV 1287.

In Vivo Imaging of Hypoxia and Neoangiogenesis in Experimental Syngeneic Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumor Model Using Positron Emission Tomography.

INTRODUCTION: Hypoxia-induced α ν ß 3 integrin and aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) receptor expression play an important role in tumor neoangiogenesis. APN/CD13-specific 68Ga-NOTA-c(NGR), α ν ß 3 integrin-specific 68Ga-NODAGA-[c(RGD)]2, and hypoxia-specific 68Ga-DOTA-nitroimidazole enable the in vivo detection of the neoangiogenic process and the hypoxic regions in the tumor mass using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether 68Ga-NOTA-c(NGR) and 68Ga-DOTA-nitroimidazole allow the in vivo noninvasive detection of the temporal changes of APN/CD13 expression and hypoxia in experimental He/De tumors using positron emission tomography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 5 × 106 hepatocellular carcinoma (He/De) cells were used for the induction of a subcutaneous tumor model in Fischer-344 rats. He/De tumor-bearing animals were anaesthetized, and 90 min after intravenous injection of 10.2 ± 1.1 MBq 68Ga-NOTA-c(NGR) or 68Ga-NODAGA-[c(RGD)]2 (as angiogenesis tracers) or 68Ga-DOTA-nitroimidazole (for hypoxia imaging), whole-body PET/MRI scans were performed. RESULTS: Hypoxic regions and angiogenic markers (α v ß 3 integrin and APN/CD13) were determined using 68Ga-NOTA-c(NGR), 68Ga-DOTA-nitroimidazole, and 68Ga-NODAGA-[c(RGD)]2 in subcutaneously growing He/De tumors in rats. 68Ga-NOTA-c(NGR) showed the strong APN/CD13 positivity of He/De tumors in vivo, by which observation was confirmed by western blot analysis. By the qualitative analysis of PET images, heterogenous accumulation was found inside He/De tumors using all radiotracers. Significantly (p ≤ 0.01) higher SUVmean and SUVmax values were found in the radiotracer avid regions of the tumors than those of the nonavid areas using hypoxia and angiogenesis-specific radiopharmaceuticals. Furthermore, a strong correlation was found between the presence of angiogenic markers, the appearance of hypoxic regions, and the tumor volume using noninvasive in vivo PET imaging. CONCLUSION: 68Ga-DOTA-nitroimidazole and 68Ga-NOTA-c(NGR) are suitable diagnostic radiotracers for the detection of the temporal changes of hypoxic areas and neoangiogenic molecule (CD13) expression, which vary during tumor growth in a hepatocellular carcinoma model.

[Oncology PET radiopharmaceuticals in clinic and research in 2020]. / 2020 onkológiai PET-radiogyógyszerei a klinikumban és a kutatásban.

"PET based" molecular imaging has significant role in personalized medicine. New radiopharmaceuticals are continuously introduced into the daily practice of detecting diseases and assessing the effectiveness of therapy. In recent years theragnostic applications have come to the forefront of radiopharmaceutical development. This article discusses, among others, radiopharmaceuticals labelled with 18F and 68Ga isotopes required for the diagnosis of neuroendocrine and prostate tumours, furthermore the inhibitors of the fibroblast activation protein. The increasing variety of metallic radioisotopes (44Sc, 64Cu, 52Mn, 86Y, 89Zr) will help meet the need for new biomarkers and will greatly facilitate the introduction of the new generation of PET radiopharmaceuticals.