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Whetter JN, Śmiłowicz D, Boros E. Exploring Aqueous Coordination Chemistry of Highly Lewis Acidic Metals with Emerging Isotopes for Nuclear Medicine. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:933-944. [PMID: 38501206 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Nuclear medicine harnesses radioisotopes for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. While the isotopes 99mTc and 111In have enabled the clinical diagnosis of millions of patients over the past 3 decades, more recent clinical translation of numerous 68Ga/177Lu-based radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic imaging and therapy underscores the clinical utility of metal-based radiopharmaceuticals in mainstream cancer treatment. In addition to such established radionuclides, advancements in radioisotope production have enabled the production of radionuclides with a broad range of half-lives and emission properties of interest for nuclear medicine. Chemical means to form kinetically inert, in vivo-compatible species that can be modified with disease-targeting vectors is imperative. This presents a challenge for radiosiotopes of elements where the aqueous chemistry is still underdeveloped and poorly understood. Here, we discuss our efforts to date in exploring the aqueous, radioactive coordination chemistry of highly Lewis acidic metal ions and how our discoveries apply to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in preclinical models of disease. The scope of this Account includes approaches to aqueous coordination of to-date understudied highly Lewis acidic metal ions with radioisotopes of emerging interest and the modulation of well-understood coordination environments of radio-coordination complexes to induce metal-catalyzed reactivity for separation and pro-drug applications.First, we discuss the development of seven-coordinate, small-cavity macrocyclic chelator platform mpatcn/picaga as an exemplary case study, which forms robust complexes with 44Sc/47Sc isotopes. Due to the high chemical hardness and pronounced Lewis acidity of the Sc3+ ion, the displacement of ternary ligand H2O by 18/natF- can be achieved to form an inert Sc-18/natF bond. Corresponding coordination complex natSc-18F is in vivo compatible and forms a theranostic tetrad with corresponding 44Sc/47Sc, 177Lu complexes all exhibiting homologous biodistribution profiles. Another exceptionally hard, highly Lewis acidic ion with underdeveloped aqueous chemistry and emerging interest in nuclear medicine is 45Ti4+. To develop de novo approaches to the mononuclear chelation of this ion under aqueous conditions, we employed a fragment-based bidentate ligand screening approach which identified two leads. The screen successfully predicted the formation of [45Ti][Ti(TREN-CAM)], a Ti-triscatechol complex that exhibits remarkable in vivo stability. Furthermore, the fragment-based screen also identified approaches that enabled solid-phase separation of Ti4+ and Sc3+ of interest in streamlining the isotope production of 45Ti and accessing new ways to separate 44Ti/44Sc for the development of a long-lived generator system. In addition to establishing the inert chelation of Ti4+ and Sc3+, we introduce controlled, metal-induced reactivity of corresponding coordination complexes on macroscopic and radiotracer scales. Metal-mediated autolytic amide bond cleavage (MMAAC) enables the temperature-dependent release of high-molar-activity, ready-to-inject radiopharmaceuticals; cleavage is selectively triggered by coordinated trivalent Lewis acid nat/68Ga3+ or Sc3+. Following the scope of reactivity and mechanistic studies, we validated MMAAC for the synthesis of high-molar-activity radiopharmaceuticals to image molecular targets with low expression and metal-mediated prodrug hydrolysis in vivo.This Account summarizes how developing the aqueous coordination chemistry and tuning the chemical reactivity of metal ions with high Lewis acidity at the macroscopic and tracer scales directly apply to the radiopharmaceutical synthesis with clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N Whetter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin─Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Dariusz Śmiłowicz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin─Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Eszter Boros
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin─Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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Del Bene A, D'Aniello A, Tomassi S, Merlino F, Mazzarella V, Russo R, Chambery A, Cosconati S, Di Maro S, Messere A. Ultrasound-assisted Peptide Nucleic Acids synthesis (US-PNAS). ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2023; 95:106360. [PMID: 36913782 PMCID: PMC10024050 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we developed an innovative and easily accessible solid-phase synthetic protocol for Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) oligomers by systematically investigating the ultrasonication effects in all steps of the PNA synthesis (US-PNAS). When compared with standard protocols, the application of the so-obtained US-PNAS approach succeeded in improving the crude product purities and the isolated yields of different PNA, including small or medium-sized oligomers (5-mer and 9-mer), complex purine-rich sequences (like a 5-mer Guanine homoligomer and the telomeric sequence TEL-13) and longer oligomers (such as the 18-mer anti-IVS2-654 PNA and the 23-mer anti-mRNA 155 PNA). Noteworthy, our ultrasound-assisted strategy is compatible with the commercially available PNA monomers and well-established coupling reagents and only requires the use of an ultrasonic bath, which is a simple equipment generally available in most synthetic laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Del Bene
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Antonia D'Aniello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Stefano Tomassi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Merlino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Mazzarella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Rosita Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Angela Chambery
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Salvatore Di Maro
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Anna Messere
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy.
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3
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Raheem SJ, Salih AK, Garcia MD, Sharpe JC, Toosi BM, Price EW. A Systematic Investigation into the Influence of Net Charge on the Biological Distribution of Radiometalated Peptides Using [ 68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE Derivatives. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:549-561. [PMID: 36800496 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Recently, several radiometalated peptides have been approved for clinical imaging and/or therapy (theranostics) of several types of cancer; nonetheless, the primary challenge that most of these peptides confront is significant renal uptake and retention, which is often dose limiting and can cause nephrotoxicity. In response to this, numerous methods have been employed to reduce the uptake of radiometalated peptides in the kidneys, and among these is adding a linker to modulate polarity and/or charge. To better understand the influence of net charge on the biodistribution of radiometalated peptides, we selected the clinically popular construct DOTA-TATE (NETSPOT/LUTATHERA) as a model system. We synthesized derivatives using manual solid-phase peptide synthesis methods including mechanical and ultrasonic agitation to effectively yield the gold standard DOTA-TATE and a series of derivatives with different net charges (+2, +1, 0, -1, -2). Dynamic PET imaging from 0 to 90 min in healthy female mice (CD1) revealed high accumulation and retention of activity in the kidneys for the net-neutral (0) charged [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE and even higher for positively charged derivatives, whereas negatively charged derivatives exhibited low accumulation and fast renal excretion. Ex vivo biodistribution at 2 h post injection demonstrated a significant retention of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE (∼74 %ID/g) in the kidneys, which increased as the net positive charge per molecule increased to +1 and +2 (∼272 %ID/g and ∼333 %ID/g, respectively), but the -1 and -2 net charged molecules exhibited lower renal uptake (∼15 %ID/g and 16 %ID/g, respectively). Interestingly, the net -2 charged [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-(Glu)2-PEG4-TATE was stable in blood serum but had much higher healthy organ uptake (lungs, liver, spleen) than the net -1 compound, suggesting instability in vivo. Although the [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-PEG4-TATE derivative with a net charge of 0 also showed a decrease in kidney uptake, it also showed instability in blood serum and in vivo. Despite the superior pharmacokinetics of the net -1 charged [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-Glu-PEG4-TATE in healthy mice with respect to kidney uptake and overall profile, dynamic PET images and ex vivo biodistribution in male mice (NSG) bearing AR42J (SSTR2 overexpressing) subcutaneous tumor xenografts showed significantly diminished tumor uptake when compared to the gold standard [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE. Taken together, these findings indicate unambiguously that kidney uptake and retention are significantly influenced by the net charge of peptide-based radiotracers. In addition, it was illustrated that the negatively charged peptides had substantially decreased kidney uptake, but in this instantiation the tumor uptake was also impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shvan J Raheem
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, S7N-5C9, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Akam K Salih
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, S7N-5C9, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Moralba Dominguez Garcia
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, S7N-5C9, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jessica C Sharpe
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, S7N-5B4, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Behzad M Toosi
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, S7N-5B4, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Eric W Price
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, S7N-5C9, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Braun D, Judmann B, Cheng X, Wängler B, Schirrmacher R, Fricker G, Wängler C. Synthesis, Radiolabeling, and In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization of Heterobivalent Peptidic Agents for Bispecific EGFR and Integrin α vβ 3 Targeting. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:2793-2807. [PMID: 36687076 PMCID: PMC9850772 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c07484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Radiolabeled heterobivalent peptidic ligands (HBPLs) are a highly promising compound class for the sensitive and specific visualization of tumors as they often exhibit superior properties compared to their monospecific counterparts and are able to concomitantly or complementarily address different receptor types. The combination of two receptor-specific agents targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the integrin αvβ3 in one HBPL would constitute a synergistic combination of binding motifs as these two receptor types are concurrently overexpressed on several human tumor types and are closely associated with disease progression and metastasis. Here, we designed and synthesized two heterobivalent radioligands consisting of the EGFR-specific peptide GE11 and αvβ3-specific cyclic RGD peptides, bearing a (1,4,7-triazacyclononane-4,7-diyl)diacetic acid-1-glutaric acid chelator for efficient radiolabeling and linkers of different lengths between both peptides. Both HBPLs were radiolabeled with 68Ga3+ in high radiochemical yields, purities of 96-99%, and molar activities of 36-88 GBq/μmol. [68Ga]Ga-1 and [68Ga]Ga-2 were evaluated for their log D(7.4) and stability toward degradation by human serum peptidases, showing a high hydrophilicity for both agents of -3.07 ± 0.01 and -3.44 ± 0.08 as well as a high stability toward peptidase degradation in human serum with half-lives of 272 and 237 min, respectively. Further on, the in vitro receptor binding profiles of both HBPLs to the target EGF and integrin αvβ3 receptors were assessed on EGFR-positive A431 and αvβ3-positive U87MG cells. Finally, we investigated the in vivo pharmacokinetics of HBPL [68Ga]Ga-1 by positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging in A431 tumor-bearing xenograft mice to assess its potential for the receptor-specific visualization of EGFR- and/or αvβ3-expressing tumors. In these experiments, [68Ga]Ga-1 demonstrated a tumor uptake of 2.79 ± 1.66% ID/g, being higher than in all other organs and tissues apart from kidneys and blood at 2 h p.i. Receptor blocking studies revealed the observed tumor uptake to be solely mediated by integrin αvβ3, whereas no contribution of the GE11 peptide sequence to tumor uptake via the EGFR could be determined. Thus, the approach to develop radiolabeled EGFR- and integrin αvβ3-bispecific HBPLs is in general feasible although another peptide lead structure than GE11 should be used as the basis for the EGFR-specific part of the agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Braun
- Biomedical
Chemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty
Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Molecular
Imaging and Radiochemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine,
Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Benedikt Judmann
- Biomedical
Chemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty
Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Molecular
Imaging and Radiochemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine,
Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Xia Cheng
- Molecular
Imaging and Radiochemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine,
Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Björn Wängler
- Molecular
Imaging and Radiochemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine,
Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ralf Schirrmacher
- Department
of Oncology, Division of Oncological Imaging, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
| | - Gert Fricker
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carmen Wängler
- Biomedical
Chemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty
Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
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Cieslik P, Kubeil M, Zarschler K, Ullrich M, Brandt F, Anger K, Wadepohl H, Kopka K, Bachmann M, Pietzsch J, Stephan H, Comba P. Toward Personalized Medicine: One Chelator for Imaging and Therapy with Lutetium-177 and Actinium-225. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:21555-21567. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c08438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Cieslik
- Universität Heidelberg, Anorganisch-Chemisches Institut, INF 270, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manja Kubeil
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Kristof Zarschler
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Ullrich
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Florian Brandt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Karl Anger
- Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden, Friedrich-List-Platz 1, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Hubert Wadepohl
- Universität Heidelberg, Anorganisch-Chemisches Institut, INF 270, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaus Kopka
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Holger Stephan
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter Comba
- Universität Heidelberg, Anorganisch-Chemisches Institut, INF 270, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Universität Heidelberg, Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing, INF 205, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Taheri-Ledari R, Ahghari MR, Ansari F, Forouzandeh-Malati M, Mirmohammadi SS, Zarei-Shokat S, Ramezanpour S, Zhang W, Tian Y, Maleki A. Synergies in antimicrobial treatment by a levofloxacin-loaded halloysite and gold nanoparticles with a conjugation to a cell-penetrating peptide. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2022; 4:4418-4433. [PMID: 36321152 PMCID: PMC9552876 DOI: 10.1039/d2na00431c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Herein, a novel designed antimicrobial therapeutic drug delivery system is presented, in which halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) encapsulate a determined dosage of levofloxacin (lvx). Moreover, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been embedded into the structure for plasmonic heating under irradiation of the green LED light (7 W, 526 nm). It was revealed that the plasmonic heating of the AuNPs leads to a controlled trend in the lvx release process. Also, a synergistic effect on the antimicrobial activity of the prepared therapeutic system has been observed through photothermal heating of the structure. To enhance the cell adhesion, a cell-penetrating peptide sequence (CPP) is conjugated to the surfaces. This CPP has led to quick co-localization of the prepared nano-cargo (denoted as lvx@HNT/Au-CPP) with the bacterial living cells and further attachment (confirmed by confocal microscopy). Concisely, the structure of the designed nano-cargo has been investigated by various methods, and the in vitro cellular experiments (zone of inhibition and colony-counting) have disclosed that the antimicrobial activity of the lvx is significantly enhanced through incorporation into the HNT/Au-CPP delivery system (drug content: 16 wt%), in comparison with the individual lvx with the same dosage. Hence, it can be stated that the bacterial resistance against antibiotics and the toxic effects of the chemical medications are reduced through the application of the presented strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Taheri-Ledari
- Catalysts and Organic Synthesis Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology Tehran 16846-13114 Iran +98-21-73021584 +98-21-73228313
| | - Mohammad Reza Ahghari
- Catalysts and Organic Synthesis Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology Tehran 16846-13114 Iran +98-21-73021584 +98-21-73228313
| | - Fatemeh Ansari
- Catalysts and Organic Synthesis Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology Tehran 16846-13114 Iran +98-21-73021584 +98-21-73228313
| | - Mohadeseh Forouzandeh-Malati
- Catalysts and Organic Synthesis Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology Tehran 16846-13114 Iran +98-21-73021584 +98-21-73228313
| | - Seyedeh Shadi Mirmohammadi
- Catalysts and Organic Synthesis Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology Tehran 16846-13114 Iran +98-21-73021584 +98-21-73228313
| | - Simindokht Zarei-Shokat
- Catalysts and Organic Synthesis Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology Tehran 16846-13114 Iran +98-21-73021584 +98-21-73228313
| | - Sorour Ramezanpour
- Department of Chemistry, K. N. Toosi University of Technology P.O. Box 15875-4416 Tehran Iran
| | - Wenjie Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University No. 37, Guoxue Alley Chengdu 610041 Sichuan Province P.R. China
| | - Ye Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Orthodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University No.14, 3rd section of South Renmin Road Chengdu 610041 P.R. China
| | - Ali Maleki
- Catalysts and Organic Synthesis Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology Tehran 16846-13114 Iran +98-21-73021584 +98-21-73228313
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Judmann B, Braun D, Schirrmacher R, Wängler B, Fricker G, Wängler C. Toward the Development of GE11-Based Radioligands for Imaging of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Positive Tumors. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:27690-27702. [PMID: 35967067 PMCID: PMC9366781 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c03407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is closely associated with tumor development and progression and thus an important target structure for imaging and therapy of various tumors. As a result of its important role in malignancies of various origins and the fact that antibody-based compounds targeting the EGFR have significant drawbacks in terms of in vivo pharmacokinetics, several attempts have been made within the last five years to develop peptide-based EGFR-specific radioligands based on the GE11 scaffold. However, none of these approaches have shown convincing results so far, which has been proposed to be attributed to different potential challenges associated with the GE11 lead structure: first, an aggregation of radiolabeled peptides, which might prevent their interaction with their target receptor, or second, a relatively low affinity of monomeric GE11, necessitating its conversion into a multimeric or polymeric form to achieve adequate EGFR-targeting properties. In the present work, we investigated if these aforementioned points are indeed critical and if the EGFR-targeting ability of GE11 can be improved by choosing an appropriate hydrophilic molecular design or a peptide multimer system to obtain a promising radiopeptide for the visualization of EGFR-overexpressing malignancies by positron emission tomography (PET). For this purpose, we developed several monovalent 68Ga-labeled GE11-based agents, a peptide homodimer and a homotetramer to overcome the challenges associated with GE11. The developed ligands were successfully labeled with 68Ga3+ in high radiochemical yields of ≥97% and molar activities of 41-104 GBq/μmol. The resulting radiotracers presented log D(7.4) values between -2.17 ± 0.21 and -3.79 ± 0.04 as well as a good stability in human serum with serum half-lives of 112 to 217 min for the monovalent radiopeptides and 84 and 62 min for the GE11 homodimer and homotetramer, respectively. In the following in vitro studies, none of the 68Ga-labeled radiopeptides demonstrated a considerable EGF receptor-specific uptake in EGFR-positive A431 cells. Moreover, none of the agents was able to displace [125I]I-EGF from the EGFR in competitive displacement assays in the same cell line in concentrations of up to 1 mM, whereas the endogenous receptor ligand hEGF demonstrated a high affinity of 15.2 ± 3.3 nM. These results indicate that it is not the aggregation of the GE11 sequence that seems to be the factor limiting the usefulness of the peptide as basis for radiotracer design but the limited affinity of monovalent and small homomultivalent GE11-based radiotracers to the EGFR. This highlights that the development of small-molecule GE11-based radioligands is not promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Judmann
- Biomedical
Chemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty
Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Molecular
Imaging and Radiochemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine,
Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Diana Braun
- Biomedical
Chemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty
Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Molecular
Imaging and Radiochemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine,
Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ralf Schirrmacher
- Department
of Oncology, Division of Oncological Imaging, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, T6G 1Z2 Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Björn Wängler
- Molecular
Imaging and Radiochemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine,
Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Gert Fricker
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 329, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carmen Wängler
- Biomedical
Chemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty
Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
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8
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Ultrasonication Improves Solid Phase Synthesis of Peptides Specific for Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor and for the Protein-Protein Interface RANK-TRAF6. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26237349. [PMID: 34885928 PMCID: PMC8659051 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26237349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Considering our interest in the use of peptides as potential target-specific drugs or as delivery vectors of metallodrugs for various biomedical applications, it is crucial to explore improved synthetic methodologies to accomplish the highest peptide crude purity in the shortest time possible. Therefore, we compared “classical” fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) with ultrasound(US)-assisted SPPS based on the preparation of three peptides, namely the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3(FGFR3)-specific peptide Pep1 (VSPPLTLGQLLS-NH2) and the novel peptides Pep2 (RQMATADEA-NH2) and Pep3 (AAVALLPAVLLALLAPRQMATADEA-NH2), which are being developed aimed at interfering with the intracellular protein-protein interaction(PPI) RANK-TRAF6. Our results demonstrated that US-assisted SPPS led to a 14-fold (Pep1) and 4-fold time reduction (Pep2) in peptide assembly compared to the “classical” method. Interestingly, US-assisted SPPS yielded Pep1 in higher purity (82%) than the “classical” SPPS (73%). The significant time reduction combined with high crude peptide purity attained prompted use to apply US-assisted SPPS to the large peptide Pep3, which displays a high number of hydrophobic amino acids and homooligo-sequences. Remarkably, the synthesis of this 25-mer peptide was attained during a “working day” (347 min) in moderate purity (approx. 49%). In conclusion, we have reinforced the importance of using US-SPPS towards facilitating the production of peptides in shorter time with increased efficacy in moderate to high crude purity. This is of special importance for long peptides such as the case of Pep3.
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The Interaction of Possible Anti-AD ASA-NAP Peptide Conjugate with Tubulin: A Theoretical and Experimental Insight. Int J Pept Res Ther 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-021-10267-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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An LY, Dai Z, Di B, Xu LL. Advances in Cryochemistry: Mechanisms, Reactions and Applications. Molecules 2021; 26:750. [PMID: 33535547 PMCID: PMC7867104 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26030750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
It is counterintuitive that chemical reactions can be accelerated by freezing, but this amazing phenomenon was discovered as early as the 1960s. In frozen systems, the increase in reaction rate is caused by various mechanisms and the freeze concentration effect is the main reason for the observed acceleration. Some accelerated reactions have great application value in the chemistry synthesis and environmental fields; at the same time, certain reactions accelerated at low temperature during the storage of food, medicine, and biological products should cause concern. The study of reactions accelerated by freezing will overturn common sense and provide a new strategy for researchers in the chemistry field. In this review, we mainly introduce various mechanisms for accelerating reactions induced by freezing and summarize a variety of accelerated cryochemical reactions and their applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Yan An
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; (L.-Y.A.); (Z.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zhen Dai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; (L.-Y.A.); (Z.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Bin Di
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; (L.-Y.A.); (Z.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Li-Li Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; (L.-Y.A.); (Z.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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