The intravenous distribution of a radiolabeled, potentially useful cluster ion of copper and penicillamine.

The 64Cu-radiolabeled mixed valence cluster ion of copper and penicillamine (Cu(I)8Cu(II)6Pen12Cl5-) is easily prepared and purified in a 30 minute procedure. Mice were dosed intravenously with this substance at 0.1 mg/kg, and the distribution of the isotope among organs and tissues was quantified by gamma scintillometry of the isotope's positron annihilation radiation. The largest concentration was found in urine (a 96-fold increase over whole body specific activity at 20 minutes), and this finding is consistent with the compound's inulin-like renal clearance. Isotope levels were also elevated in kidney and liver tissues (2.36-and 3.62-fold, respectively), while all other organs and tissues examined were found to be depleted of the label. A pre-injection of unlabeled cluster at 60 mg/kg effectively blocked radiolabel interaction with liver tissue. This intensely red-violet compound did not stain viable liver cells, and it was not significantly decomposed by liver homogenates over a three hour period. These results suggest cluster interaction at saturable binding sites on liver cell surfaces. The unlabeled cluster shows no indication of toxicity, and the labeled version might have biomedical applications.

Synthesis and possible applications of biotin-linked copper clusters.

The trifunctional aziridine XAMA-7 (CAS 57116-45-7) has been used to form crosslinks between a deep red-violet copper cluster of the type Cu(I)8Cu(II)6pen12Cl5- (pen=penicillamine) and molecules with biological activity such as d-biotin and proteins. A complex containing biotin, bovine serum albumin and the copper cluster displayed activity toward affinity columns of avidin on Agarose, and the red-violet pigment was immobilized on the gel. This interaction was completely blocked in gels which had been pretreated with d-biotin carboxylic acid. The free and biologically active versions of the cluster have some potential for biomedical applications. For example, the short-lived positron emitter 64Cu (suitable for positron tomography) may be carried in the cluster's structure. The cluster is paramagnetic, but it is a relatively weak effector of water proton spin-lattice relaxation. Other members of this structural group of inorganic compounds may have better magnetic properties, and the crosslinking reaction with aziridines appears to be generally applicable to the group.