Clinical Radiosynthesis and Translation of [18F]OP-801: A Novel Radiotracer for Imaging Reactive Microglia and Macrophages

Human Glial Cells as Innovative Targets for the Therapy of Central Nervous System Pathologies

In vitro and preclinical in vivo research in the last 35 years has clearly highlighted the crucial physiopathological role of glial cells, namely astrocytes/microglia/oligodendrocytes and satellite glial cells/Schwann cells in the central and peripheral nervous system, respectively. Several possible pharmacological targets to various neurodegenerative disorders and painful conditions have therefore been successfully identified, including receptors and enzymes, and mediators of neuroinflammation. However, the translation of these promising data to a clinical setting is often hampered by both technical and biological difficulties, making it necessary to perform experiments on human cells and models of the various diseases. In this review we will, therefore, summarize the most relevant data on the contribution of glial cells to human pathologies and on their possible pharmacological modulation based on data obtained in post-mortem tissues and in iPSC-derived human brain cells and organoids. The possibility of an in vivo visualization of glia reaction to neuroinflammation in patients will be also discussed.

[18F]-Radiolabelled Nanoplatforms: A Critical Review of Their Intrinsic Characteristics, Radiolabelling Methods, and Purification Techniques

A wide range of nano-objects is found in many applications of our everyday life. Recognition of their peculiar properties and ease of functionalization has prompted their engineering into multifunctional platforms that are supposed to afford efficient tools for the development of biomedical applications. However, bridging the gap between bench to bedside cannot be expected without a good knowledge of their behaviour in vivo, which can be obtained through non-invasive imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET). Their radiolabelling with [18F]-fluorine, a technique already well established and widely used routinely for PET imaging, with [18F]-FDG for example, and in preclinical investigation using [18F]-radiolabelled biological macromolecules, has, therefore, been developed. In this context, this review highlights the various nano-objects studied so far, the reasons behind their radiolabelling, and main in vitro and/or in vivo results obtained thereof. Then, the methods developed to introduce the radioelement are presented. Detailed indications on the chemical steps involved are provided, and the stability of the radiolabelling is discussed. Emphasis is then made on the techniques used to purify and analyse the radiolabelled nano-objects, a point that is rarely discussed despite its technical relevance and importance for accurate imaging. The pros and cons of the different methods developed are finally discussed from which future work can develop.

Application of Functionalized Zn-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks (Zn-MOFs) with CuO in Heterocycle Synthesis via Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition

The main goal of this article is to discuss the expansion of click chemistry. A new catalyst composed of CuO nanoparticles embedded in Zn-MOF with the ligand 2,4,6-tris(4-carboxyphenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine (H3L) is presented. The incorporation of CuO nanoparticles into the Zn-MOF structure led to desirable morphology and catalytic properties. The designed catalyst was evaluated for its catalytic role in the multicomponent reaction and copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) for preparation of triazole rings with 80-91% yield. The catalyst demonstrated an appealing architecture and exhibited robustness, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness. Characterization of the catalyst was performed using various techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopes (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), elemental mapping, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results suggest that this novel catalyst has the potential to be a valuable tool in the development of new synthetic approaches for a wide range of applications.