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

Stability studies on (99m)technetium(III) complexes with tridentate/monodentate thiol ligands and phosphine ('3 + 1 + 1' complexes)

The preparation and characterisation of 3 + 1 + 1 technetium complexes of the general formula [Tc(SES)(RS)(PMe2Ph)] (SES = tridentate dithiol ligand, E = S, O, NMe; RSH = monothiol ligand) at the n.c.a. level is described. The Tc(III) complexes are prepared in a one-step procedure starting from pertechnetate in yields of 85-95% of radiochemical purity. A comparison of their chromatographic data with the fully characterised 99Tc complexes indicate the identity of the investigated compounds. Stability studies show that the 99mTc complexes undergo some alteration in solution. They are oxidised to the 3 + 1 oxotechnetium (V) complexes and/or decompose in aqueous solution. In challenge experiments performed with glutathione, exchange of the monothiolato ligand occurs in the same manner as known for the 3 + 1 complexes.

Permeation studies in vitro and in vivo of potential radiopharmaceuticals with affinity to neuro receptors

PURPOSE

To check the influence of structural characteristics on their permeation through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a set of radioactive [99mTc]chelates bearing amine groups was synthesized and tested in vitro as well as in vivo.

METHODS

Compounds with different log P and pKa values were obtained by complex forming reactions of [99mTc]pertechnetate with varying substituents. Transport was studied in rats and mice, as well as in an ECV304 cell culture model.

RESULTS

In vitro higher permeation was found for compounds with electron attracting substituents in beta-position to the amine group (pKa values 7.4 to 8.3) than for those with more basic amine groups (pKa values > 8.9) even for similar log DH 7.4. In vivo brain uptake between 0.8 and 4.8% of the injected dose (ID) per organ was found for the former, whereas <0.4% ID were present for the latter.

CONCLUSIONS

Three structurally diverse classes of [99mTc]chelates showed distinct patterns with regard to brain uptake in vivo and BBB permeability in vitro which could not be predicted by their lipophilicity alone. The close correlation between the data from rats and mice and those obtained with cell cultures render the ECV304 cells an attractive model for the screening of new compounds.