Radiosynthesis and Bioevaluation of 99mTc-Labeled Isocyanide Ubiquicidin 29-41 Derivatives as Potential Agents for Bacterial Infection Imaging

To develop a novel 99mTc-labeled ubiquicidin 29-41 derivative for bacterial infection single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging with improved target-to-nontarget ratio and lower nontarget organ uptake, a series of isocyanide ubiquicidin 29-41 derivatives (CNnUBI 29-41, n = 5-9) with different carbon linkers were designed, synthesized and radiolabeled with the [99mTc]Tc(I)+ core, [99mTc][Tc(I)(CO)3(H2O)3]+ core and [99mTc][Tc(V)N]2+ core. All the complexes are hydrophilic, maintain good stability and specifically bind Staphylococcus aureus in vitro. The biodistribution in mice with bacterial infection and sterile inflammation demonstrated that [99mTc]Tc-CN5UBI 29-41 was able to distinguish bacterial infection from sterile inflammation, which had an improved abscess uptake and a greater target-to-nontarget ratio. SPECT imaging study of [99mTc]Tc-CN5UBI 29-41 in bacterial infection mice showed that there was a clear accumulation in the infection site, suggesting that this radiotracer could be a potential radiotracer for bacterial infection imaging.

Preparation and biodistribution of [18F]FP2OP as myocardial perfusion imaging agent for positron emission tomography

Myocardial extractions of pyridaben, a mitochondrial complex I (MC-I) inhibitor, is well correlated with blood flow. Based on the synthesis and characterization of pyridaben analogue 2-tert-butyl-5-[2-(2-[(18)F]fluroethoxy)ethoxy]benzyloxy]-4-chloro-2H-pyridazin-3-one ([(18)F]FP2OP), this study assessed its potential to be developed as myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) agent.

METHODS

The tosylate labeling precursor 2-(2-(4-(tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-pyridazin-4-yloxymethyl)benzyloxy)ethoxy)ethyl ester (OTs-P2OP) and the nonradioactive 2-tert-butyl-5-[2-(2-[(19)F]fluroethoxy)ethoxy]benzyloxy]-4-chloro-2H-pyridazin-3-one ([(19)F]FP2OP) were synthesized and characterized by IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and MS analysis. By substituting tosyl of precursor OTs-P2OP with (18)F, the radiolabeled complex [(18)F]FP2OP was prepared and further evaluated for its in vitro physicochemical properties, in vivo biodistribution, the metabolic stability in mice, ex vivo autoradiography and cardiac PET/CT imaging.

RESULTS

Starting with [(18)F]F(-) Kryptofix 2.2.2./K(2)CO(3) solution, the total reaction time for [(18)F]FP2OP was about 100 min, with final high-performance liquid chromatography purification included. Typical decay-corrected radiochemical yield stayed at 41+/-5.3%, the radiochemical purity, 98% or more. Biodistribution in mice showed that the heart uptake of [(18)F]FP2OP was 41.90+/-4.52%ID/g at 2 min post-injection time, when the ratio of heart/liver, heart/lung and heart/blood reached 6.83, 9.49 and 35.74, respectively. Lipophilic molecule was further produced by metabolized [(18)F]FP2OP in blood and urine at 30 min. Ex vivo autoradiography demonstrates that [(18)F]FP2OP may have high affinity with MC-I and that can be blocked by [(19)F]FP2OP or rotenone (a known MC-I inhibitor). Cardiac PET images were obtained in a Chinese mini-swine at 5, 15, 30 and 60 min post-injection time with high quality.

CONCLUSION

[(18)F]FP2OP was synthesized with high radiochemical yield. The promising biological properties of [(18)F]FP2OP suggest high potential as MPI agent for positron emission tomography in the future.

Preparation of 99mTc-nitrido asymmetrical heterocomplex with 4-(cyclohexylpiperazin-1-yl)-dithioformate and its biological evaluation as a potential myocardial imaging agent

Potassium 4-(cyclohexylpiperazin-1-yl)-dithioformate (HPDTF) was synthesized from 1-cyclohexylpiperazine. The corresponding (99m)Tc-nitrido asymmetrical heterocomplex [(99m)TcN(PNP5)(HPDTF)](+) [PNP5=bis-(dimethoxypropylphosphinoethyl)ethoxyethylamine] was prepared via the [(99m)TcN](int)(2+) precursor in high yields (>95%) and characterized by HPLC and paper electrophoresis. It was found to be lipophilic and cationic, with high stability in vitro. Studies of its biodistribution in mice showed high heart uptake and good myocardial retention ((11.12+/-1.41)% ID/g at 5 min and (10.88+/-1.45)% ID/g at 120 min), as well as rapid clearance from liver, blood and soft tissues. At 60 min post-injection, the heart-to-liver, heart-to-lung and heart-to-blood ratios were 1.30, 3.89 and 27.56, respectively, which suggested that the complex might be suitable for myocardial imaging.