Design of silicon-based misonidazole analogues and 18F-radiolabelling

Silicon-Fluoride Acceptors (SiFA) for 18F-Radiolabeling: From Bench to Bedside

Fluorine-18 (18F) is undoubtedly one of the most frequently applied radionuclides for the development of new radiotracers for positron emission tomography (PET) in the context of clinical cancer, neurological, and metabolic imaging. Until recently, the available radiochemical methodologies to introduce 18F into organic molecules ranging from small- to medium- and large-sized compounds were limited to a few applicable protocols. With the advent of late-stage fluorination of small aromatic, nonactivated compounds and various noncanonical labeling strategies geared toward the labeling of peptides and proteins, the molecular toolbox for PET radiotracer development was substantially extended. Especially, the noncanonical labeling methodologies characterized by the formation of Si-18F, B-18F, and Al-18F bonds give access to kit-like 18F-labeling of complex and side-group unprotected compounds, some of them already in clinical use. This chapter will particularly focus on silicon-fluoride acceptor (SiFA) chemistry and cover the history of its conceptual design and its translation into the clinical practice.

Recent Advances in the Clinical Translation of Silicon Fluoride Acceptor (SiFA) 18F-Radiopharmaceuticals

The incorporation of silicon fluoride acceptor (SiFA) moieties into a variety of molecules, such as peptides, proteins and biologically relevant small molecules, has improved the generation of ¹⁸F-radiopharmaceuticals for medical imaging. The efficient isotopic exchange radiofluorination process, in combination with the enhanced [¹⁸F]SiFA in vivo stability, make it a suitable strategy for fluorine-18 incorporation. This review will highlight the clinical applicability of [¹⁸F]SiFA-labeled compounds and discuss the significant radiotracers currently in clinical use.

Crown Ether Nucleophilic Catalysts (CENCs): Agents for Enhanced Silicon Radiofluorination

New bifunctional phase transfer agents were synthesized and investigated for their abilities to promote rapid fluorination at silicon. These agents, dubbed crown ether nucleophilic catalysts (CENCs), are 18-crown-6 derivatives containing a side-arm and a potentially nucleophilic hydroxyl group. These CENCs proved efficacious in the fluorination of hindered silicon substrates, with fluorination yields dependent on the length of linker connecting the metal chelating unit to the hydroxyl group. The efficacy of these CENCs was also demonstrated for rapid radiofluorination under mild conditions for eventual application in molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET). The hydrolysis-resistant aryl silicon fragment is promising as a convenient synthon for labeling potential PET radiotracers.

The chemistry and radiochemistry of hypoxia-specific, radiohalogenated nitroaromatic imaging probes

Hypoxia is prevalent in many solid tumors. Hypoxic tumors tend to exhibit rapid growth and aberrant vasculature, which lead to oxygen (O2) depletion and impaired drug delivery. The reductive environment in hypoxic tumors alters cellular metabolism, which can trigger transcriptional responses; induce genetic alterations; promote invasion, metastasis, resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, tumor progression, and recurrence; and leads to poor local control and reduced survival rates. Therefore, exploiting the reductive microenvironment in hypoxic tumors by delivering electron-affinic, O2-mimetic radioactive drugs that bioreductively activate selectively in the hypoxic microenvironment offers a logical approach to molecular imaging of focal hypoxia. Because these agents also radiosensitize hypoxic cells, they provide an innovative approach to the therapy management of such tumors. To date, nuclear imaging of hypoxic tumor has proven to be clinically effective, whereas chemical radiosensitization by these compounds has not been helpful. The current review provides an insight into the chemistry, radiochemistry, and purification strategies for selected nitroaromatics that directly exploit the bioreductive environment in hypoxic cells. Both experimental and calculated single-electron reduction potentials of electron-affinic compounds, nitroimidazoles in particular, correlate with in vitro radiosensitizing properties, making them preferred choices for use as radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic imaging and as sensitizers to enhance the killing effects of low-energy-transfer x-rays (O2-mimetic radiosensitization). Extensive research and careful drug design have led to the development of several potentially useful hypoxia-targeting drugs, for example, [(18)F]FAZA, [(18)F]FMISO, [(18)F]EF5, and [(123)I]IAZA, that accrue selectively in hypoxic cells. These molecular probes are now globally used in clinical hypoxia imaging, including cancer. Future innovative developments must, however, consider hypoxia-selective molecular processes and the physicochemical properties of the drugs that dictate their biodistribution, hypoxia-selective accumulation, pharmacokinetics, clearance, biochemical behavior, and metabolism. This will facilitate their ultimate transformation to effective molecular theranostics, leading to improved multimodal management of cancer.

[(18)F]-Group 13 fluoride derivatives as radiotracers for positron emission tomography

The field of (18)F chemistry is rapidly expanding because of the use of this radionuclide in radiotracers for positron emission tomography (PET). Until recently, most [(18)F]-radiotracers were generated by the direct attachment of (18)F to a carbon in the organic backbone of the radiotracer. The past decade has witnessed the emergence of a new strategy based on the formation of an (18)F-group 13 element bond. This approach, which is rooted in the field of fluoride anion complexation/coordination chemistry, has led to the development of a remarkable family of boron, aluminium and gallium [(18)F]-fluoride anion complexing agents which can be conjugated with peptides and small molecules to generate disease specific PET radiotracers. This review is dedicated to the chemistry of these group 13 [(18)F]-fluorides anion complexing agents and their use in PET. Some of the key fluoride-binding motifs covered in this review include the trifluoroborate unit bound to neutral or cationic electron deficient backbones, the BF2 unit of BODIPY dyes, and AlF or GaF3 units coordinated to multidentate Lewis basic ligands. In addition to describing how these moieties can be converted into their [(18)F]-analogs, this review also dicusses their incorporation into bioconjugates for application in PET.

Methods to Increase the Metabolic Stability of (18)F-Radiotracers

The majority of pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds incorporating radiotracers that are considered foreign to the body undergo metabolic changes in vivo. Metabolic degradation of these drugs is commonly caused by a system of enzymes of low substrate specificity requirement, which is present mainly in the liver, but drug metabolism may also take place in the kidneys or other organs. Thus, radiotracers and all other pharmaceuticals are faced with enormous challenges to maintain their stability in vivo highlighting the importance of their structure. Often in practice, such biologically active molecules exhibit these properties in vitro, but fail during in vivo studies due to obtaining an increased metabolism within minutes. Many pharmacologically and biologically interesting compounds never see application due to their lack of stability. One of the most important issues of radiotracers development based on fluorine-18 is the stability in vitro and in vivo. Sometimes, the metabolism of ¹⁸F-radiotracers goes along with the cleavage of the C-F bond and with the rejection of [¹⁸F]fluoride mostly combined with high background and accumulation in the skeleton. This review deals with the impact of radiodefluorination and with approaches to stabilize the C-F bond to avoid the cleavage between fluorine and carbon.

¹⁸F-labeled silicon-based fluoride acceptors: potential opportunities for novel positron emitting radiopharmaceuticals

BACKGROUND

Over the recent years, radiopharmaceutical chemistry has experienced a wide variety of innovative pushes towards finding both novel and unconventional radiochemical methods to introduce fluorine-18 into radiotracers for positron emission tomography (PET). These "nonclassical" labeling methodologies based on silicon-, boron-, and aluminium-(18)F chemistry deviate from commonplace bonding of an [(18)F]fluorine atom ((18)F) to either an aliphatic or aromatic carbon atom. One method in particular, the silicon-fluoride-acceptor isotopic exchange (SiFA-IE) approach, invalidates a dogma in radiochemistry that has been widely accepted for many years: the inability to obtain radiopharmaceuticals of high specific activity (SA) via simple IE.

METHODOLOGY

The most advantageous feature of IE labeling in general is that labeling precursor and labeled radiotracer are chemically identical, eliminating the need to separate the radiotracer from its precursor. SiFA-IE chemistry proceeds in dipolar aprotic solvents at room temperature and below, entirely avoiding the formation of radioactive side products during the IE.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

A great plethora of different SiFA species have been reported in the literature ranging from small prosthetic groups and other compounds of low molecular weight to labeled peptides and most recently affibody molecules.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature over the last years (from 2006 to 2014) shows unambiguously that SiFA-IE and other silicon-based fluoride acceptor strategies relying on (18)F(-) leaving group substitutions have the potential to become a valuable addition to radiochemistry.

Enhanced Nucleophilic Fluorination and Radiofluorination of Organosilanes Appended with Potassium-Chelating Leaving Groups

Here we aimed to explore the feasibility of enhancing the fluorination of organosilanes by appending potassium-chelating groups to the substrates. For this purpose, eight organosilanes were prepared in which a linear or cyclic leaving group, with putative potassium-chelating ability, was attached covalently to a congested silicon atom via an ether linkage to serve as a potential nucleophilic assisting leaving group (NALG). Organosilicon-NALGs with expected strong potassium-chelating capability enhanced reactions with potassium fluoride in acetonitrile to produce organofluorosilanes without any need to separately add phase transfer reagent. Similar rate enhancements were also observed with cyclotron-produced [¹⁸F]fluoride ion (t_1/2 = 109.7 min, β⁺ = 97%) in the presence of potassium carbonate in MeCN-0.5% H₂O. This study found that metal-chelating NALG units can accelerate fluorination and radiofluorination reactions at sterically crowded silicon atoms.

Studies toward the development of new silicon-containing building blocks for the direct (18)F-labeling of peptides

Silicon-containing prosthetic groups have been conjugated to peptides to allow for a single-step labeling with (18)F radioisotope. The fairly lipophilic di-tert-butylphenylsilane building block contributes unfavorably to the pharmacokinetic profile of bombesin conjugates. In this article, theoretical and experimental studies toward the development of more hydrophilic silicon-based building blocks are presented. Density functional theory calculations were used to predict the hydrolytic stability of di-tert-butylfluorosilanes 2-23 with the aim to improve the in vivo properties of (18)F-labeled silicon-containing biomolecules. As a further step toward improving the pharmacokinetic profile, hydrophilic linkers were introduced between the lipophilic di-tert-butylphenylsilane building block and the bombesin congeners. Increased tumor uptake was shown with two of these peptides in xenograft-bearing mice using positron emission tomography and biodistribution studies. The introduction of a hydrophilic linker is thus a viable approach to improve the tumor uptake of (18)F-labeled silicon-bombesin conjugates.

Synthesis of new 18F-radiolabeled silicon-based nitroimidazole compounds

The syntheses of new nitroimidazole compounds using silicon-[(18)F]fluorine chemistry for the potential detection of tumor hypoxia are described. [(18)F]silicon-based compounds were synthesized by coupling 2-nitroimidazole with silyldinaphtyl or silylphenyldi-tert-butyl groups and labeled by fluorolysis or isotopic exchange. Dinaphtyl compounds (6, 10) were labeled in 56-71% yield with a specific activity of 45 GBq/μmol, however these compounds ([(18)F]7 and [(18)F]11) were not stable in plasma. Phenyldi-tert-butyl compounds were labeled in 70% yield with a specific activity of 3 GBq/μmol by isotopic exchange, or in 81% yield by fluorolysis of siloxanes with a specific activity of 45 GBq/μmol. The labeled compound [(18)F]18 was stable in plasma and excreted by the liver and kidneys in vivo. In conclusion, the fluorosilylphenyldi-tert-butyl (SiFA) group is more stable in plasma than fluorosilyldiphenyl moiety. Thus, compound [(18)F]18 is suitable for further in vivo assessments.

Inorganic approaches for radiolabelling biomolecules with fluorine-18 for imaging with positron emission tomography

Conventional methods for radiolabelling biomolecules such as proteins and peptides with fluorine-18 for PET imaging rely on carbon-fluorine bond formation and are complex and inefficient. Several non-carbon elements form strong bonds (i.e. with high bond enthalpy) with fluorine, but with lower activation energy for their formation compared to carbon-fluorine bonds, whilst preserving a relatively high kinetic stability. In particular, by incorporating boron-, aluminium- and silicon-containing prosthetic groups into biomolecules, promising results have recently been achieved in the radiolabelling with F-18-fluoride under mild aqueous conditions, affording a level of convenience, efficiency and specific activity potentially superior to those offered by conventional C-F bond formation methods. The promise already shown by these early studies heralds a new branch of bioconjugate radiochemistry involving a wider range of "fluoridephilic" elements for synthesis of PET molecular imaging agents.

Biocompatible inorganic nanoparticles for [18F]-fluoride binding with applications in PET imaging

A wide selection of insoluble nanoparticulate metal salts was screened for avid binding of [(18)F]-fluoride. Hydroxyapatite and aluminium hydroxide nanoparticles showed particularly avid and stable binding of [(18)F]-fluoride in various biological media. The in vivo behaviour of the [(18)F]-labelled hydroxyapatite and aluminium hydroxide particles was determined by PET-CT imaging in mice. [(18)F]-labelled hydroxyapatite was stable in circulation and when trapped in various tissues (lung embolisation, Subcutaneous and intramuscular), but accumulation in liver via reticuloendothelial clearance was followed by gradual degradation and release of [(18)F]-fluoride (over a period of 4 h) which accumulated in bone. [(18)F]-labelled aluminium hydroxide was also cleared to liver and spleen but degraded slightly even without liver uptake (Subcutaneous and intramuscular). Both materials have properties that are an attractive basis for the design of molecular targeted PET imaging agents labelled with (18)F.

Fast 18F labeling of a near-infrared fluorophore enables positron emission tomography and optical imaging of sentinel lymph nodes

We combine a novel boronate trap for F⁻ with a near-infrared fluorophore into a single molecule. Attachment to targeting ligands enables localization by positron emission tomography (PET) and near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF). Our first application of this generic tag is to label Lymphoseek (tilmanocept), an agent designed for receptor-specific sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping. The new conjugate incorporates ¹⁸F⁻ in a single, aqueous step, targets mouse SLN rapidly (1 h) with reduced distal lymph node accumulation, permits PET or scintigraphic imaging of SLN, and enables NIRF-guided excision and histological verification even after ¹⁸F decay. This embodiment is superior to current SLN mapping agents such as nontargeted [^99mTc]sulfur colloids and Isosulfan Blue, as well as the phase III targeted ligand [^99mTc]SPECT Lymphoseek counterpart, species that are visible by SPECT or visible absorbance separately. Facile incorporation of ¹⁸F into a NIRF probe should promote many synergistic PET and NIRF combinations.

Biocompatibility of thermally hydrocarbonized porous silicon nanoparticles and their biodistribution in rats

Porous silicon (PSi) particles have been studied for the effects they elicit in Caco-2 and RAW 264.7 macrophage cells in terms of toxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. The most suitable particles were then functionalized with a novel (18)F label to assess their biodistribution after enteral and parenteral administration in a rat model. The results show that thermally hydrocarbonized porous silicon (THCPSi) nanoparticles did not induce any significant toxicity, oxidative stress, or inflammatory response in Caco-2 and RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Fluorescently labeled nanoparticles were associated with the cells surface but were not extensively internalized. Biodistribution studies in rats using novel (18)F-labeled THCPSi nanoparticles demonstrated that the particles passed intact through the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration and were also not absorbed from a subcutaneous deposit. After intravenous administration, the particles were found mainly in the liver and spleen, indicating rapid removal from the circulation. Overall, these silicon-based nanosystems exhibit excellent in vivo stability, low cytotoxicity, and nonimmunogenic profiles, ideal for oral drug delivery purposes.