Radiolabeling with technetium-99m to study high-capacity and low-capacity biochemical systems

Synthesis and characterization of novel 99gTc(V) and Re(V) complexes with water-soluble tetraaza diamido dipyridino ligands: single-crystal X-ray structural investigations of mono- and dinuclear complexes

Rhenium and technetium are known for their useful applications in nuclear medicine with similar properties. In this study, new diamido dipyridino (N(4)) water-soluble ligands (2-C(5)H(4)NCH(2)NHCO)(2)CH(2), 1 (L(1)H2), (2-C(5)H(4)NNHNHCO)(2)CH(2), 2, and [2-C(5)H(4)N(+)(O)(-)CH(2)NHCO](2)CH(2), 3, were synthesized. Reaction of L(1)H2 with ReOCl(3)(PPh(3))(2) resulted in the novel six-coordinated rhenium(V) complex, trans-ReO(L(1))(OEt), 4. The complex was characterized by spectroscopic methods, and its X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that rhenium is coordinated to four nitrogen atoms of the ligand and to two oxygen atoms from the deprotonated ethanol and the oxo group respectively in a distorted octahedral geometry. In solution, complex 4 was transformed to a new complex 5, which was proved to be the dinuclear complex mu-oxo [ReO(L(1))](2)O. Reaction of 1 with [n-Bu(4)N][ReOCl(4)] resulted in the neutral complex 6, trans-[ReO(L(1))]Cl. Similarly, when ligand 1 was reacted with [n-Bu(4)N][(99g)TcOCl(4)], the neutral trans-[(99)TcO(L(1))]Cl complex 7 was formed, which upon dissolution transformed into a cationic complex 8, trans-[(99)TcO(L(1))(OH(2))](+)Cl(-). The single-crystal X-ray structure of 8 reveals that the coordination sphere about technetium is a distorted octahedron with four nitrogen atoms in the equitorial plane, while doubly bonded oxygen and coordinated water occupy the apical positions. Further dissolution of 8 resulted in the formation of dinuclear mu-oxo [TcO(L(1))](2)O, 9. This study shows that Tc and Re have similar metal core structures in solution for diamido dipyridino systems, besides similarity in geometrical structure, proved by the X-ray structures on the same ligands.

Bifunctional single amino acid chelates for labeling of biomolecules with the [Tc(CO)(3)](+) and [Re(CO)(3)](+) cores. Crystal and molecular structures of [ReBr(CO)(3)(H(2)NCH(2)C(5)H(4)N)], [Re(CO)(3)[(C(5)H(4)NCH(2))(2)NH]]Br, [Re(CO)(3)[(C(5)H(4)NCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CO(2)H]]Br, [Re(CO)(3)[X(Y)NCH(2)CO(2)CH(2)CH(3)]]Br (X = Y = 2-pyridylmethyl; X = 2-pyridylmethyl, Y = 2-(1-methylimidazolyl)methyl; X = Y = 2-(1-methylimidazolyl)methyl), [ReBr(CO)(3)[(C(5)H(4)NCH(2))NH(CH(2)C(4)H(3)S)]], and [Re(CO)(3)[(C(5)H(4)NCH(2))N(CH(2)C(4)H(3)S)(CH(2)CO(2))]]

The reactions of a series of potentially tridentate ligands, derived from single amino acids or amino acid analogues, with [NEt(4)](2)[ReBr(3)(CO)(3)] have been investigated. The model compounds [Re(CO)(3)Br[(2-pyridylmethyl)NH(2)]] (1) and [Re(CO)(3)[(2-pyridylmethyl)(2)NH]]Br (2) were also prepared and structurally characterized. With ligands possessing two pyridyl appendages, (2-pyridylmethyl)(2)NX (X = -CH(2)CO(2)H, -CH(2)CO(2)Et, -CH(2)CH(2)CO(2)H, -CH(2)CH(2)CO(2)Et, -CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)CH(NHCO(2)(t)Bu)CO(2)H), complexes of the type [Re(CO)(3)(ligand)]Br (3-6) were isolated. All possess the fac-[Re(CO)(3)N(3)] coordination geometry in the cationic molecular unit. Similarly, the ligands with the imidazolyl arms (2-pyridylmethyl)[2-(1-methylimidazolyl)methyl]NCH(2)CO(2)Et and [2-(1-methylimidazolyl)methyl](2)NCH(2)CO(2)Et, complexes 7 and 8 of the same [Re(CO)(3)(ligand)]Br type, were prepared. Replacement of one pyridyl arm with a thiophene group yielded the complex [Re(CO)(3)[(2-pyridylmethyl)N(CH(2)CO(2))(2-thiophenemethyl)]] (9), while additional substitution of X = -H for -CH(2)CO(2)H yielded [Re(CO)(3)Br[(2-pyridylmethyl)NH(2-thiophenemethyl)]] (10). In both 9 and 10, the thiophene is uncoordinated and pendant, and the derivatives display fac-[Re(CO)(3)N(2)O] and fac-[Re(CO)(3)N(2)Br] coordination geometries, respectively. Crystal data: C(9)H(8)BrN(2)O(3)Re (1), triclinic P1, a = 8.156(1) A, b = 12.077(1) A, c = 12.945(2) A, alpha = 92.183(3) degrees, beta = 107.848(3) degrees, gamma = 100.955(7) degrees, V = 1185.1(3) A, Z = 4; C(15)H(13)BrN(3)O(3)Re (2), tetragonal P4(1), a = 8.6095(3) A, c = 22.228(1) A, V = 1646.9(1) A(3), Z = 4; C(17)H(14)BrN(3)O(5)Re.CH(3)OH (3), monoclinic P2(1)/m, a = 7.4425(3) A, b = 9.7596(4) A, c = 14.0646(6) A, beta = 97.753(1) degrees, V = 1012.26(7) A(3), Z = 2; C(19)H(19)BrN(3)O(5)Re (4), tetragonal P42(1)c, a = 16.895(3) A, c = 15.042(3) A, V = 4293.7(13) A(3), Z = 8; C(18)H(20)BrN(4)O(5)Re.CH(3)OH.H(2)O (7), monoclinic P2(1)/c, a = 10.2816(4) A, b = 30.386(1) A, c = 14.5810(6) A, beta = 99.868(1) degrees, V = 4488.03(3) A(3), Z = 8; C(17)H(21)BrN(5)O(5)Re.0.5CH(2)Cl(2).0.5H(2)O (8), triclinic P1, a = 11.5363(6) A, b = 13.1898(6) A, c = 16.4933(8) A, alpha = 89.356(1) degrees, beta = 74.907(1) degrees, gamma = 76.216(1) degrees, V = 2349.8(2) A(3), Z = 4; C(16)H(13)N(2)O(5)ReS (9), monoclinic P2(1)/c, a = 17.2072(7) A, b = 8.5853(4) A, c = 11.5607(5) A, beta = 101.73(1) degrees, V = 1672.2(1) A(3), Z = 4; and C(14)H(12)N(2)O(3)BrReS (10), triclinic P1, a = 7.5585(3) A, b = 9.7713(4) A, c = 11.7103(4) A, alpha = 109.566(1) degrees, beta = 98.298(1) degrees, gamma = 100.925(1) degrees, V = 779.73(5) A(3), Z = 2.

Radiometallated receptor-avid peptide conjugates for specific in vivo targeting of cancer cells

New receptor-avid radiotracers are being developed for site-specific in vivo targeting of a myriad of receptors expressed on cancer cells. This review exemplifies strategies being used to design radiometallated peptide conjugates that maximize uptake in tumors and optimize their in vivo pharmacokinetic properties. Efforts to produce synthetic peptide analogues that target the following three receptor systems are highlighted: Gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), and guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) receptors.

Rhodium-105 tetrathioether complexes: radiochemistry and initial biological evaluation

105Rhodium(III) complexes with three different acyclic tetrathioether ligands containing pendant carboxylic acid groups have been synthesized and characterized. The complexes were evaluated for stability under physiological conditions and the most promising complexes were evaluated in vivo in normal mice. The primary route of clearance for these complexes was the renal/urinary system, consistent with the presence of pendant carboxylate groups. The results indicate that the cis-[Rh(III)Cl2(2,5,8,11-tetrathiadodecane-1,12-dicarboxylic acid)]+ complex shows the most promising in vivo characteristics on which to base a potential therapeutic radiopharmaceutical.

Experiments on a new phosphine-peptide chelator for labelling of peptides with Tc-99m

A phosphine-containing ligand providing a N-[N-[3-(diphenylphosphino)propionyl]glycyl]-L-S-benzyl-cystein (PNNS) donor atomset for the chelation of 99mTc was studied in labelling experiments with a model peptide (tetragastrin, cholecystokinin-fragment). The peptide was conjugated to the ligand chelator by active ester chemistry either before or after radiolabelling. Both the chelator-conjugate and the preformed chelate approaches resulted in the same radiolabelled isomers of the ligand peptide. Sequence and reaction conditions influence yield and purity.

Determination of dissociation constants of 99mTechnetium radiopharmaceuticals by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis was applied to investigate pKa values of 99mTc radiotracers used in nuclear medicine. Therefore, the protonation equilibria of the carboxyl groups of 99mTc-mercaptoacetylglycylglycylglycine (99mTc-MAG3) and 99mTc-ethylenecysteine dimer (99mTc-EC) were studied by pH-dependent determination of electrophoretical velocities. 99mTc-ethylenecysteine dimer diethyl ester (99mTc-ECD) was used as a non-protonable standard. The capillary electrophoresis system was equipped with a radioactivity detector. Measurements were performed using a pressure-driven capillary zone electrophoresis which allowed runs even in the low pH range. For the determination of pKa values, the electrophoretical velocities of the analytes were referred to the electrophoretical velocities of tetraphenyle arsonium chloride as a positively charged marker. Calculation of pKa values was accomplished by non-linear curve fitting of both structure-based equilibria equations and sigmoidal decay functions to the experimental data. 99mTc-MAG3 was shown to have a carboxyl group pKa value of 4.22. The value for the carboxyl groups of 99mTc-EC is 2.90 (determined by structure-based equilibria equations), which represents a common value for both carboxyl groups. By the use of sigmoidal functions, similar values were elucidated. As expected, 99mTc-ECD shows no protonation step.

Protein and peptide labeling with (cyclopentadienyl)tricarbonyl rhenium and technetium

A method for labeling proteins and peptides with (methoxycarbonyl cyclopentadienyl)tricarbonyl rhenium and technetium is described. The precursors used for this labeling are conveniently produced from perrhenate and pertechnetate, respectively, using a double ligand transfer reaction. For labeling the lysine residues of the model protein bovine serum albumin, the technetium methyl ester was saponified and then transformed into its N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester. For the labeling of the model peptides leucine enkephalin, substance P, oxytocin, and the tumor imaging/therapy candidate octreotide, the rhenium methyl ester was saponified and activated using either 1-hydoxybenzotriazole or 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole. The activation and peptide-coupling reactions were followed using reversed-phase (C18) HPLC and yields averaged approximately 70%.

In vivo localization of diglycylcysteine-bearing synthetic peptides by nuclear imaging of oxotechnetate transchelation

A phenomenon of in vivo transchelation of oxotechnetate from a complex with glucoheptonic acid to synthetic peptides bearing oxotechnetate-binding motifs and a technique for in vivo visualization of these peptides are described. Using two model peptides bearing two tandem diglycylcysteine (GGC) motifs (P1) or three GGC motifs (P2), we demonstrated that: (i) these peptides efficiently transchelated oxo-[99mTc]technetate from a complex with glucoheptonic acid in vitro (a complex with peptides was stable at least 24 h; radiochemical purity exceeded 95% by high performance liquid chromatography); (ii) injection of peptides into the rectus femoris muscle (at 0.5-1 micromol of SH groups) followed by an intravenous injection of 99mTc-glucoheptonate (0.25-0.5 mCi per animal) yielded visualization of the injected muscle by nuclear imaging within 1 h after injection; (iii) the experimental/control (contralateral) thigh muscle ratio was 1.80 +/- 0.05 for peptide P1 and 3.0 +/- 0.1 for P2; (iv) the injection of a control peptide P2 with SH groups covalently modified with N-ethylmaleimide resulted in a ratio of 1.4 +/- 0.2. These findings argue for specific association of oxo-[99mTc]technetate with free thiols within the binding motif of injected peptides in vivo. In vivo transchelation of oxo-[99mTc]technetate may be useful for the purpose of noninvasive imaging of gene expression, i.e., when the expression product bears GGC motifs.

Technetium-99m-labeled receptor-specific small-molecule radiopharmaceuticals: recent developments and encouraging results

The development of technetium-99m-labeled small-molecule radiopharmaceuticals directed at specific high-affinity binding sites, as are found in receptors for hormones and neurotransmitters, transport systems, and certain enzymes, is a natural outgrowth from the successful development of technetium radiopharmaceuticals for imaging flow and metabolism. Although many receptor-specific radiopharmaceuticals labeled with PET and other SPECT isotopes already exist, the low cost and widespread availability of technetium-99m would make their 99mTc-labeled counterparts much more accessible to the medical community. This review has four goals: (a) To survey and analyze critically the results of a flurry of research activity in this area in recent years, which has led to the preparation of a number of novel technetium-labeled radiopharmaceuticals targeted at high-affinity sites, a few of which appear to be very promising; (b) to provide a conceptual analysis of how these agents are being designed; (c) to provide a context in terms of binding and uptake behavior by which these agents should be judged; and (d) to highlight emerging knowledge on the structure of receptors and related high-affinity binding biomolecules and their distribution, which may serve as reference points for understanding the results that have been obtained so far, and may be useful guides for future design.

Validation and application of a solid phase chemistry method for preparation of high effective specific activity technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals

Solid phase chemistry with UltraLink Iodoacetyl gel was investigated as a method for removing excess ligand present in preparations of diaminedithiol (DADT) 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals. The process was optimized and tested under 99mTc labeling conditions with 2,2,4,9,9-pentamethyl-4,7-diaza-1,10-decanedithiol (N-methyl-DADT), 1, and 4-(1-(2'-methoxyphenyl) piperazinylbutyl)-2,2,9,9-tetramethyl-4,7-diaza-1,10 -decanedithiol (DADT-4C-MPP), 2, a serotonin receptor-binding ligand. The results illustrated that this gel removed > or = 99.9% excess ligand used in labeling reactions, and was comparable to the level of purification usually obtained by the more labor intensive method of HPLC.

Structural modification of receptor-binding technetium-99m complexes in order to improve brain uptake

Low brain uptake is a generally accepted problem in developing technetium-99m brain receptor imaging agents. For a class of potential 5-HT2A receptor-binding agents we tried to improve the original low brain uptake of 0.4% injected dose (ID) in rats 5 min p.i. by modifying the lipophilic properties of the molecules. Because of the presence of a protonable nitrogen, which according to the pKa value leads to ionization of the molecule at blood pH, the pKa value was considered to be the parameter most suitable for adjustment of lipophilicity. Insertion of ether-oxygen in the molecule of five candidates lowers the apparent pKa value from 10.0 to 8.3 and dramatically increases the brain uptake to 1.3% ID at 5 min. The direct relationship between brain uptake and apparent pKa cannot be simply explained by the increase in the pKa-governed proportion of the neutral species.

Biodistribution of model 105Rh-labeled tetradentate thiamacrocycles in rats

105Rh(III)Cl2 complexes with a limited series of [14]ane- and [16]ane- thia macrocycles were prepared and their biodistributions in Sprague-Dawley rats studied. These studies demonstrate that modifications in the structure and composition of the 105Rh-thia macrocycle complexes produce significant differences in their uptake and retention in both the liver and kidneys. The results indicate that the cis-Rh(III)Cl2-[14]ane thiamacrocycles exhibit less kidney retention than the corresponding trans-Rh(III)Cl2-[16]ane thiamacrocycles. In addition, the presence of a side chain containing a carboxylate group will produce decreased retention of activity in the kidneys. HPLC analysis of urine from these animals indicates no observable in vivo metabolism or dissociation of these chelates in the blood stream.

A review of new oncotropic tracers for PET imaging

We have developed three biochemical probes to determine if they are sensitive probes of early biochemical change in a tumor. All three probes appear to have the appropriate properties for in vivo imaging, but must now be evaluated as probes for the sensitive detection of changes in early malignant disease.

Technetium(V) and rhenium(V) complexes for 5-HT2A serotonin receptor binding: structure-affinity considerations

Starting from the lead structure of ketanserin, a prototypic serotonin (5-HT) antagonist, new oxotechnetium(V) and oxorhenium(V) complexes were synthesized that are able to compete with [3H]ketan-serin in receptor-binding assays. To imitate organic 5-HT2 receptor ligands, fragments of ketanserin were combined with chelate moieties. Neutral compounds of the general formula [MOL1L2] (M = Tc, Re; L1 = HS-CH2CH2-S-CH2CH2-SH, N-(2-mercaptophenyl)salicylideneimine, N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-salicylideneimine, 3-(2-([N,N-bis(2-mercapto-S-ethyl)]-amino)ethyl)-2,4-(1H, 3H)-quinazolinedione and L2 = HS-R with R = subst. alkyl) were prepared by common action of a Tc(V) or Re(V) precursor with a mixture of equimolar amounts of a tridentate ligand L1 and a monodentate thiolate L2 bearing fragments of the lead structure. Lipophilic complexes consisting of a small S4 thiolate/thioether chelate unit, protonable nitrogen-containing spacer, and simple benzyl moiety significantly inhibited the specific binding of [3H]ketan-serin with IC50 values between 10 and 50 nM.