69mZn-containing radiopharmaceuticals: a novel approach to molecular design

Zinc and copper complexes with azacrown ethers and their comparative stability in vitro and in vivo

Copper-based radiopharmaceuticals are of high interest these days owing to the decay properties of copper radioisotopes. In contrast, labeled zinc compounds have been less studied for applications in nuclear medicine. In this study, the stability of labeled zinc and copper complexes with two azacrown ether ligands was investigated and compared. Then, the in vitro and in vivo stability of the studied zinc complexes was demonstrated, with the complexes showing promise for biomedical applications. In contrast, analogous copper complexes quickly dissociated in the presence of serum proteins. Furthermore, a simple method for the production of radiochemically pure 65Zn was proposed, and the opportunity for its use as a surrogate radionuclide for research into potential zinc-containing radiopharmaceuticals was demonstrated.

Hydroxyapatite and porphyrin-fullerene nanoparticles for diagnostic and therapeutic delivery of paramagnetic ions and radionuclides

Nanoparticles for drug delivery are the subject of extensive research. Importantly, they can transform in size during synthesis or actual use, thereby changing their cytotoxic properties. The aim of the present work was to study the tendency of [67Zn] porphyrin-fullerene nanoparticles (BFNP) to aggregate over time and to compare the properties of hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles obtained through 3 different techniques. We found that aggregation of BFNP nanoparticles does not affect their function but attenuates their cytotoxicity against leukemia cells. We were also able to obtain HAP nanoparticles with programmable properties (such as size, shape or the capacity to adsorb metal ions, ligands and chemical complexes) through enzymatic synthesis by varying its conditions. The synthesized HAP nanoparticles contain short-lived isotopes of zinc and copper (in the form of ions and complexes with pyrimidine or thiazine derivatives). These tumoricidal components (a radionuclide and a ligand or a complex) determine the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of the obtained radiopharmaceutical agents.