Synthesis, Cu(II) complexation, 64Cu-labeling and biological evaluation of cross-bridged cyclam chelators with phosphonate pendant arms.

A new class of cross-bridged cyclam-based macrocycles featuring phosphonate pendant groups has been developed. 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-di(methanephosphonic acid) (CB-TE2P, 1) and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1-(methanephosphonic acid)-8-(methanecarboxylic acid) (CB-TE1A1P, 2) have been synthesized and have been shown to readily form neutral copper(II) complexes at room temperature as the corresponding dianions. Both complexes showed high kinetic inertness to demetallation and crystal structures confirmed complete encapsulation of copper(II) ion within each macrocycle's cleft-like structure. Unprecedented for cross-bridged cyclam derivatives, both CB-TE2P (1) and CB-TE1A1P (2) can be radiolabeled with (64)Cu at room temperature in less than 1 h with specific activities >1 mCi µg(-1). The in vivo behavior of both (64)Cu-CB-TE2P and (64)Cu-CB-TE1A1P were investigated through biodistribution studies using healthy male Lewis rats. Both new compounds showed rapid clearance with similar or lower accumulation in non-target organs/tissues when compared to other copper chelators including CB-TE2A, NOTA and Diamsar.

Isomeric trimethylene and ethylene pendant-armed cross-bridged tetraazamacrocycles and in vitro/in vivo comparisions of their copper(II) complexes.

Ethylene cross-bridged tetraamine macrocycles are useful chelators in coordination, catalytic, medicinal, and radiopharmaceutical chemistry. Springborg and co-workers developed trimethylene cross-bridged analogues, although their pendant-armed derivatives received little attention. We report here the synthesis of a bis-carboxymethyl pendant-armed cyclen with a trimethylene cross-bridge (C3B-DO2A) and its isomeric ethylene-cross-bridged homocyclen ligand (CB-TR2A) as well as their copper(II) complexes. The in vitro and in vivo properties of these complexes are compared with respect to their potential application as (64)Cu-radiopharmaceuticals in positron emission tomography (PET imaging). The inertness of Cu-C3B-DO2A to decomplexation is remarkable, exceeding that of Cu-CB-TE2A. Electrochemical reduction of Cu-CB-TR2A is quasi-reversible, whereas that of Cu-C3B-DO2A is irreversible. The reaction conditions for preparing (64)Cu-C3B-DO2A (microwaving at high temperature) are relatively harsh compared to (64)Cu-CB-TR2A (basic ethanol). The in vivo behavior of the (64)Cu complexes was evaluated in normal rats. Rapid and continual clearance of (64)Cu-CB-TR2A through the blood, liver, and kidneys suggests relatively good in vivo stability, albeit inferior to (64)Cu-CB-TE2A. Although (64)Cu-C3B-DO2A clears continually, the initial uptake is high and only about half is excreted within 22 h, suggesting poor stability and transchelation of (64)Cu to proteins in the blood and/or liver. These data suggest that in vitro inertness of a chelator complex may not always be a good indicator of in vivo stability.

Evaluation of multivalent, functional polymeric nanoparticles for imaging applications.

A series of multivalent, functional polymer nanoparticles with diagnostic/imaging units and targeting ligands for molecular targeting were synthesized with the loading of the chain-end-functionalized GRGDS peptide targeting sequence (model system based on integrin α(v)ß(3)) ranging from 0 to 50%. Accurate structural and functional group control in these systems was achieved through a modular approach involving the use of multiple functionalized macromonomer/monomer units combined with living free radical polymerization. In cellulo results show an increase in uptake in α(v)ß(3) integrin-positive U87MG glioblastoma cells with increasing RGD loading and a possible upper limit on the effectiveness of the number of RGD peptides for targeting α(v)ß(3) integrin. Significantly, this increased targeting efficiency is coupled with in vivo biodistribution results, which show decreased blood circulation and increased liver uptake with increasing RGD loading. The results demonstrate the importance of controlling ligand loading in order to achieve optimal performance for therapeutic and imaging applications for multivalent nanoparticle-based systems.

Synthesis, characterization and in vivo studies of Cu(II)-64-labeled cross-bridged tetraazamacrocycle-amide complexes as models of peptide conjugate imaging agents.

Copper-64, a positron emitter suitable for positron emission tomography (PET), demonstrates improved in vivo clearance when chelated by the cross-bridged tetraazamacrocycle CB-TE2A compared to TETA. Good in vivo clearance was also observed for 64Cu-CB-TE2A conjugated to a peptide, which converts one coordinating carboxylate pendant arm to an amide. To better understand the in vivo stability of peptide- conjugated CB-TE2A, cross-bridged monoamides were synthesized. Crystal structures of natCu(II)-CB-TEAMA and natCu(II)-CB-PhTEAMA revealed hexadentate, distorted octahedral coordination geometry. In vivo biodistribution showed clearance of all 64Cu-radiolabeled cross-bridged monoamides from liver and bone marrow such that uptake at 24 h was <10% of uptake at 30 min. In contrast, >60% of 30 min uptake from 64Cu-TETA was retained in these tissues at 24 h. Clearance of 64Cu-cross-bridged monoamides from nontarget organs suggests good in vivo stability, thus supporting the use of CB-TE2A as a bifunctional chelator without modifications to the macrocycle backbone.