99mTc-labeled chemotactic peptides: influence of coligand on distribution of molecular species and infection imaging properties. Synthesis and structural characterization of model complexes with the {Re(η2-HNNC5H4N)(η1-NNC5H4N)} core

Evaluation of K(HYNIC)(2) as a bifunctional chelator for (99m)Tc-labeling of small biomolecules

This study sought to evaluate K(HYNIC)(2) (K = lysine and HYNIC = 6-hydrazinonicotinyl) as a bifunctional chelator for (99m)Tc-labeling of biomolecule. In this study, four K(HYNIC)(2)-conjugated cyclic RGD peptides, K(HYNIC)(2)-RGD(2) (RGD(2) = E[c(RGDfK)](2)), K(HYNIC)(2)-3G-RGD(2) (3G-RGD(2) = Gly-Gly-Gly-E[Gly-Gly-Gly-c(RGDfK)](2)), K(HYNIC)(2)-2P-RGD(2) (2P-RGD(2) = E[PEG4-c(RGDfK)](2), and PEG(4) = 15-amino-4,7,10,13-tetraoxapentadecanoic acid), and K(HYNIC)(2)-3P-RGD(2) (3P-RGD(2) = PEG4-E[PEG4-c(RGDfK)]2) were prepared, and evaluated for their integrin αvβ3 binding affinity. IC(50) values were determined to be 47 ± 2, 35 ± 2, 37 ± 2, 85 ± 2, and 422 ± 15 nM for K(HYNIC)(2)-2P-RGD(2), K(HYNIC)(2)-3P-RGD(2), K(HYNIC)(2)-3G-RGD(2), K(HYNIC)(2)-RGD(2), and c(RGDyK), respectively, against (125)I-echistatin bound to U87MG cells. Macrocyclic complexes [(99m)Tc(K(HYNIC)(2)-RGD(2))(tricine)] (1), [(99m)Tc(K(HYNIC)(2)-3G-RGD(2))(tricine)] (2), [(99m)Tc(K(HYNIC)(2)-2P-RGD(2))(tricine)] (3), and [(99m)Tc(K(HYNIC)(2)-3P-RGD(2))(tricine)] (4) were prepared, and evaluated in athymic nude mice bearing U87MG glioma xenografts for their tumor targeting capability and biodistribution. It was found that 1-4 all had high solution stability and more than two isomers, as evidenced by the presence of multiple radiometric peaks in their radio-HPLC chromatograms. The tumor uptake of 1-4 was 3.78 ± 0.81, 7.46 ± 1.68, 9.74 ± 1.65, and 8.59 ± 1.52%ID/g, respectively, which was completely consistent with trend of integrin α(v)β(3) binding affinity for cyclic RGD peptides. Replacing [(99m)Tc(HYNIC)(tricine)(TPPTS)] (TPPTS = trisodium triphenylphosphine-3,3',3"-trisulfonate) with [(99m)Tc(K(HYNIC)(2))(tricine)] had little impact on radiotracer tumor uptake; but it had significant effect on the uptake of radiotracer in kidneys, lungs, and spleen. The tumor was clearly visualized by SPECT/CT with excellent contrast in a glioma-bearing mouse administered with 4. K(HYNIC)(2) would be particularly useful for (99m)Tc-labeling of small biomolecules with one or more disulfide linkages.

Radioactive synthesis and biodistribution study of beta-elemene-99mTc(CO)3 conjugates

Beta-elemene, (5S,7R,10S)-(-)-(1-methyl-1-vinyl-2,4-diisopropenylcyclohexane), is an anticancer agent from traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Three novel (99m)Tc(CO)(3)-beta-elemene conjugates were synthesized successfully, and compared with beta-elemene exhibited improved water solubility. A biodistribution and micro single photon emission computed tomography image study showed there is a visible accumulation in Lewis lung cancer tumors.

99m-Technetium carbohydrate conjugates as potential agents in molecular imaging

This feature article covers recent reports of work towards the development of (99m)Tc-carbohydrate based agents for use in SPECT imaging, particularly of cancerous tissue. An outline of some of the key biological functions and coordination chemistry of carbohydrates is given, along with an introduction to bioconjugation and molecular imaging. Technetium coordination chemistry and the subset of this involving bioconjugates are discussed before moving into the focus of the article: glycoconjugates of (99m)Tc(v) and the more recently developed [(99m)Tc(I)(CO)(3)](+). Significant work in the last decade has featured the very attractive [(99m)Tc(CO)(3)](+) core, and the ligand sets designed for this core are discussed in detail.

Bifunctional coupling agents for radiolabeling of biomolecules and target-specific delivery of metallic radionuclides

Receptor-based radiopharmaceuticals are of great current interest in molecular imaging and radiotherapy of cancers, and provide a unique tool for target-specific delivery of radionuclides to the diseased tissues. In general, a target-specific radiopharmaceutical can be divided into four parts: targeting biomolecule (BM), pharmacokinetic modifying (PKM) linker, bifunctional coupling or chelating agent (BFC), and radionuclide. The targeting biomolecule serves as a "carrier" for specific delivery of the radionuclide. PKM linkers are used to modify radiotracer excretion kinetics. BFC is needed for radiolabeling of biomolecules with a metallic radionuclide. Different radiometals have significant difference in their coordination chemistry, and require BFCs with different donor atoms and chelator frameworks. Since the radiometal chelate can have a significant impact on physical and biological properties of the target-specific radiopharmaceutical, its excretion kinetics can be altered by modifying the coordination environment with various chelators or coligand, if needed. This review will focus on the design of BFCs and their coordination chemistry with technetium, copper, gallium, indium, yttrium and lanthanide radiometals.

Coligand effects on the solution stability, biodistribution and metabolism of the (99m)Tc-labeled cyclic RGDfK tetramer

In this study, we present the evaluation of two new ternary ligand (99m)Tc complexes [(99m)Tc(HYNIC tetramer)(tricine)(L)] [L=isonicotinic acid (ISONIC) and 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDA)] as potential radiotracers for tumor imaging. Athymic nude mice bearing MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer xenografts were used to evaluate their biodistribution and metabolic properties. Solution stability data showed that [(99m)Tc(HYNIC tetramer)(tricine)(L)] (L=ISONIC and PDA) had significant decomposition (14% and 35%, respectively) at 6 h in the absence of excess ISONIC or PDA coligand. Biodistribution data clearly showed that [(99m)Tc(HYNIC tetramer)(tricine)(PDA)] had a much lower uptake in most organs of interest than [(99m)Tc(HYNIC tetramer)(tricine)(ISONIC)] during the 2-h study period. Results from metabolism studies revealed that approximately 50% of [(99m)Tc(HYNIC tetramer)(tricine)(ISONIC)] remained intact in fecal samples at 120 min postinjection, whereas only 10% of [(99m)Tc(HYNIC tetramer)(tricine)(PDA)] remained intact in fecal samples. The extent of metabolism correlated well with radiotracer solution stability. The results from this and our previous studies clearly demonstrated that coligands [trisodium triphenylphosphine-3,3',3''-trisulfonate (TPPTS), ISONIC and PDA] have a significant impact on the tumor uptake, excretion kinetics and metabolism of the (99m)Tc-labeled cyclic RGDfK tetramer. Among the three radiotracers evaluated in this tumor-bearing animal model, [(99m)Tc(HYNIC tetramer)(tricine)(TPPTS)] remained the best with respect to blood clearance, tumor uptake and target/background ratios.

A convenient solid-phase synthesis methodology for preparing peptide-derived molecular imaging agents — Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro screening of Tc(I) – chemotactic peptide conjugates

A versatile solid-phase synthesis strategy for preparing peptide–chelate conjugates was developed. The methodology was optimized using a series of ligands, designed to bind Tc(I)/Re(I), and a chemotactic peptide fMFL, which was exploited as a model targeting vector. The peptide derivatives were prepared in parallel using a conventional automated peptide synthesizer in multi-milligram quantities, which provided sufficient material to perform complete characterization, radiolabelling, and in vitro screening studies. Because of the robust nature of the metal–chelate complexes, the Re complex of a chelate–peptide conjugate was prepared on the resin using the same methodology employed to prepare the free ligand conjugates. As such, the reported methodology is amenable to the preparation of libraries of novel Tc radiopharmaceutical ligands and their corresponding Re reference standards in which several factors, including peptide sequence, site of derivatization, and both the type and length of the spacer, can be easily varied.Key words: radiopharmaceuticals, technetium, rhenium, peptides, solid-phase synthesis.

A mono-diazenide complex from perrhenate: toward a new core for rhenium radiopharmaceuticals

A new method for the synthesis of low to intermediate oxidation state rhenium complexes containing a bifunctional ligand has been developed. Reaction of [ReO(4)](-) with substituted phenylhydrazines and triphenylphosphine in acetonitrile in the presence of HCl allows the isolation of [ReCl(2)(NNC(6)H(4)-4-R)(NCCH(3))(PPh(3))(2)] (where R = OCH(3), Cl, or CO(2)CH(3)). The substituted hydrazine acts as both a reductant and source of a monodentate diazenide ligand. The compounds have all been characterized in the solid state by X-ray crystallography and in the solution state by NMR, electrospray mass spectrometry, and HPLC. Cyclic voltammetry measurements show that the mono-diazenide complexes undergo a reversible oxidation.

[Re(III)Cl(3)] core complexes with bifunctional single amino acid chelates

The reactions of the Re(V) starting material [ReO(PPh(3))(2)Cl(3)] with ligands of the type XN(Y)Z [X = Y = 2-pyridylmethyl, Z = -CH(2)CO(2)Et (L(1)Et), -CH(2)CH(2)CO(2)Et (L(2)Et), -CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)CH(NHCO(2)Bu(t))CO(2)H (L(3)H); X = 2-pyridylmethyl, Y = 2-(1-methylimidazolyl)methyl, Z = -CH(2)CO(2)Et (L(4)Et)] yielded the Re(III) trichloride complexes of the type [ReCl(3)(L(n)R)]. The complexes are mononuclear, paramagnetic species with a facial geometry of the chloride ligands. The nitrogen donors of the tridentate L(n)()R ligands complete the distorted octahedral coordination spheres of the complexes. Crystal data: [ReCl(3)(L(1)Et)] (1), monoclinic, C2/m, a = 16.088(3) A, b = 9.980(2) A, c = 12.829(2) A, beta = 91.384(3) degrees, Z = 4, D(calc) = 1.967 g/cm(-)(3); [ReCl(3)(L(4)Et)] (4), monoclinic, C2/c, a = 22.880(1) A, b = 7.4926(4) A, c = 22.560(1) A, beta = 94.186(1) degrees, Z = 8, D(calc) = 2.001 g/cm(-3).

Redox Behavior of Re(V)–Amino Acid Containing Complexes

Three cationic complexes containing the [Re((V))O](3+) core (general formula [ReO(dien-H)(aa)](+), dien=diethylenetriamine, aa=glycine, alanine, valine) were studied on polycrystalline Au electrodes employing cyclic voltammetry techniques. The electrochemical behavior of the amino acids (aa) was also evaluated. Experiments were performed at pH 7.0 aqueous solutions at room temperature. The voltammogram of the complex showed current contributions related to the [Re((VI))O](4+)/[Re((V))O](3+) redox couple, the counterion, and the amino acid ligand.