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Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is an excellent target for imaging and treatment of prostate carcinoma (PCa). Unfortunately, not all PCa cells express PSMA. Therefore, alternative theranostic targets are required. The membrane protein prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is highly overexpressed in most primary prostate carcinoma (PCa) cells and in metastatic and hormone refractory tumor cells. Moreover, PSCA expression positively correlates with tumor progression. Therefore, it represents a potential alternative theranostic target suitable for imaging and/or radioimmunotherapy. In order to support this working hypothesis, we conjugated our previously described anti-PSCA monoclonal antibody (mAb) 7F5 with the bifunctional chelator CHX-A″-DTPA and subsequently radiolabeled it with the theranostic radionuclide 177Lu. The resulting radiolabeled mAb ([177Lu]Lu-CHX-A″-DTPA-7F5) was characterized both in vitro and in vivo. It showed a high radiochemical purity (>95%) and stability. The labelling did not affect its binding capability. Biodistribution studies showed a high specific tumor uptake compared to most non-targeted tissues in mice bearing PSCA-positive tumors. Accordingly, SPECT/CT images revealed a high tumor-to-background ratios from 16 h to 7 days after administration of [177Lu]Lu-CHX-A″-DTPA-7F5. Consequently, [177Lu]Lu-CHX-A″-DTPA-7F5 represents a promising candidate for imaging and in the future also for radioimmunotherapy.

We show the synthesis of an in vivo stable mercury compound with functionality suitable for radiopharmaceuticals. The designed cyclic bisarylmercury was based on the water tolerance of organomercurials, higher bond dissociation energy of Hg−Ph to Hg−S, and the experimental evidence that acyclic structures suffer significant cleavage of one of the Hg−R bonds. The bispidine motif was chosen for its in vivo stability, chemical accessibility, and functionalization properties. Radionuclide production results in 197(m)HgCl2(aq), so the desired mercury compound was formed via a water‐tolerant organotin transmetallation. The Hg‐bispidine compound showed high chemical stability in tests with an excess of sulfur‐containing competitors and high in vivo stability, without any observable protein interaction by human serum assay, and good organ clearance demonstrated by biodistribution and SPECT studies in rats. In particular, no retention in the kidneys was observed, typical of unstable mercury compounds. The natHg analogue allowed full characterization by NMR and HRMS., Stable and versatile: The cyclic bisarylmercury bispidine structure shows exceptional stability against sulfur compounds known to usually react very easily with mercury. Aside from its novelty in mercury chemistry, the in vivo stability paired with the functionalizability of this motif is an important step forward in the development of useful radiomercury pharmaceuticals.

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) of tyrosine kinase (TK) have shown high expression levels in most cancers and are considered a promising target for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Expanding the investigation for novel targeted radiopharmaceuticals, an EGFR inhibitor such as 4-aminoquinazoline derivatives along with a radionuclide such as technetium-99m (99mTc) could be ideal. Thus, we report herein the synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of new “4 + 1” mixed-ligand ReIII- and 99mTcIII-complexes of the general formula [99mTc][Tc(NS3)(CN-R)] bearing tris(2-mercaptoethyl)-amine (NS3) as the tetradentate tripodal ligand and a series of isocyanide derivatives (CN-R) of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (3-bromophenyl)quinazoline-4,6-diamine as the monodentate ligand. The quinazoline isocyanide derivatives 4a-d were prepared in two steps and reacted with the [Re(NS3)PMe2Ph] precursor leading to the final complexes 5a-d in high yield. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and NMR spectroscopies. In vitro studies, for their potency to inhibit the cell growth, using intact A431 cells indicate that the quinazoline derivatives 4a-d and the Re complexes 5a-d significantly inhibit the A431 cell growth. In addition, the EGFR autophosphorylation study of complex 5b shows an IC50 value in the nanomolar range. The corresponding “4 + 1” 99mTc-complexes 6a-d were prepared by employing the [99mTc]TcEDTA intermediate and the appropriate monodentate 4a-d in a two-step synthetic procedure with a radiochemical yield (RCY) from 63 to 77 % and a radiochemical purity (RCP) > 99 % after HPLC purification. Their structures have been established by HPLC comparative studies using the well-characterized Re-complexes 5a-d as reference. All 99mTc-complexes remain stable for at least 6 h, and their logD7.4 values confirmed their anticipated lipophilic character. Biodistribution studies in healthy Swiss albino mice of 99mTc-complexes showed hepatobiliary excretion and initial fast blood clearance. Complex 6b was also tested in Albino SCID mice bearing A431 tumors and showed rapid tumor uptake at 5 min (2.80 % ID/g) with a moderate tumor/muscle ratio (2.06) at 4 h p.i. The results encourage further investigation for this type of 99mTc-complexes as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) radio agents for imaging tumors overexpressing EGFR. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd

In addition to the classic functions of proteins, such as acting as a biocatalyst or binding partner, the conformational states of proteins and their remodeling upon stimulation need to be considered. A prominent example of a protein that undergoes comprehensive conformational remodeling is transglutaminase 2 (TGase 2), the distinct conformational states of which are closely related to particular functions. Its involvement in various pathophysiological processes, including fibrosis and cancer, motivates the development of theranostic agents, particularly based on inhibitors that are directed toward the transamidase activity. In this context, the ability of such inhibitors to control the conformational dynamics of TGase 2 emerges as an important parameter, and methods to assess this property are in great demand. Herein, we describe the application of the switchSENSE® principle to detect conformational changes caused by three irreversibly binding Nε-acryloyllysine piperazides, which are suitable radiotracer candidates of TGase 2. The switchSENSE® technique is based on DNA levers actuated by alternating electric fields. These levers are immobilized on gold electrodes with one end, and at the other end of the lever, the TGase 2 is covalently bound. A novel computational method is introduced for describing the resulting lever motion to quantify the extent of stimulated conformational TGase 2 changes. Moreover, as a complementary biophysical method, native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed under similar conditions to validate the results. Both methods prove the occurrence of an irreversible shift in the conformational equilibrium of TGase 2, caused by the binding of the three studied Nε-acryloyllysine piperazides.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) represents an important molecular target for both radiotracer-based diagnostic imaging and radionuclide therapy of various cancer entities. For the delivery of radionuclides to the tumor, peptides hold great potential as a transport vehicle. With respect to EGFR, the peptide YHWYGYTPQNVI (GE11) has been reported to bind the receptor with high specificity and affinity. In the present study, GE11 with β-alanine (β-Ala-GE11) was conjugated to the chelating agent p-SCN-Bn-NOTA and radiolabeled with 64Cu for the first radio pharmacological evaluation as a potential probe for positron emission tomography (PET)-based cancer imaging. For better water solubility, an ethylene glycol-based linker was introduced between the peptide’s N terminus and the radionuclide chelator. The stability of the 64Cu-labeled peptide conjugate and its binding to EGFR-expressing tumor cells was investigated in vitro and in vivo, and then compared with the 64Cu-labeled EGFR-targeting antibody conjugate NOTA-cetuximab. The GE11 peptide conjugate [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-linker-β-Ala-GE11 ([64Cu]Cu-1) was stable in a buffer solution for at least 24 h but only 50% of the original compound was detected after 24 h of incubation in human serum. Stability could be improved by amidation of the peptide’s C terminus (β-Ala-GE11-NH2 (2)). Binding assays with both conjugates, [64Cu]Cu-1 and [64Cu]Cu-2, using the EGFR-expressing tumor cell lines A431 and FaDu showed no specific binding. A pilot small animal PET investigation in FaDu tumor-bearing mice revealed only low tumor uptake (standard uptake value (SUV)

Unnatural mirror image l-configured oligonucleotides (L-ONs) are a convenient substance class for the application as complementary in vivo recognition system between a tumor specific antibody and a smaller radiolabeled effector molecule in pretargeting approaches. The high hybridization velocity and defined melting conditions are excellent preconditions of the L-ON based methodology. Their high metabolic stability and negligible unspecific binding to endogenous targets are superior characteristics in comparison to their d-configured analogs. In this study, a radiopharmacological evaluation of a new l-ONs based pretargeting system using the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) specific antibody cetuximab (C225) as target-seeking component is presented. An optimized PEGylated 17mer-L-DNA was conjugated with p-SCN-Bn-NOTA (NOTA′) to permit radiolabeling with the radionuclide 64Cu. C225 was modified with the complementary 17mer-L-DNA (c-L-DNA) strand as well as with NOTA′ for radiolabeling and use for posi...

Radiolabeled alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) derivatives have a high potential for diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, because of high specificity and binding affinity to the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R). Hence, the alpha-MSH-derived peptide NAP-NS1 with a beta-Ala linker (epsilon-Ahx-beta-Ala-Nle-Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-NH2) was conjugated to different chelators: either to NOTA (p-SCN-Bn-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid), to a hexadentate bispidine carbonate derivative (dimethyl-9-(((4-nitrophenoxy)carbonyl)oxy)-2,4-di(pyridin-2-yl)-3,7-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-1,5-dicarboxylate), or to DMPTACN (p-SCN-Ph-bis(2-pyridyl-methyl)-1,4,7-triaza-cyclononane), labeled with Cu-64, and investigated in terms of radiochemical and radiopharmacological properties. For the three Cu-64-labeled conjugates negligible transchelation, suitable buffer and serum stability, as well as appropriate water solubility, was determined. The three conjugates exhibited high binding affinity (low nanomolar range) in murine B16F10, human MeWo, and human TXM13 cells. The B-max values of [Cu-64]Cu-bispidine-NAP-NS1 ([Cu-64]Cu-2) and [Cu-64]Cu-DMPTACN-NAP-NS1 ([Cu-64]Cu-3) were higher than those of [Cu-64]Cu-NOTA-NAP-NS1 ([Cu-64]Cu-1), implying that different charged chelate units might have an impact on binding capacity. Preliminary in vivo biodistribution studies suggested the main excretion pathway of [Cu-64]Cu-1 and [Cu-64]Cu-3 to be renal, while that of [Cu-64]Cu-2 seemed to be both renal and hepatobiliary. An initial moderate uptake in the kidney decreased clearly after 60 minutes. All three Cu-64-labeled conjugates should be considered for further in vivo investigations using a suitable xenograft mouse model.

The melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) plays an important role in melanoma growth, angiogenesis and metastasis, and is overexpressed in melanoma cells. α-Melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and derivatives are known to bind with high affinity at this receptor that provides the potential for selective targeting of melanoma. In this study, one linear α-MSH-derived peptide Nle-Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-NH2 (NAP-NS1) without linker and with eAhx-β-Ala linker, and a cyclic α-MSH derivative, [Lys-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Glu]-Arg-Pro-Val-NH2 (NAP-NS2) with eAhx-β-Ala linker were conjugated with p-SCN-Bn-NOTA and labeled with (64)Cu. Radiochemical and radiopharmacological investigations were performed with regard to transchelation, stability, lipophilicity and in vitro binding assays as well as biodistribution in healthy rats. No transchelation reactions, but high metabolic stability and water solubility were demonstrated. The linear derivatives showed higher affinity than the cyclic one. [(64)Cu]Cu-NOTA-eAhx-β-Ala-NAP-NS1 ([(64)Cu]Cu-2) displayed rapid cellular association and dissociation in murine B16F10 cell homogenate. All [(64)Cu]Cu-labeled conjugates exhibited affinities in the low nanomolar range in B16F10. [(64)Cu]Cu-2 showed also high affinity in human MeWo and TXM13 cell homogenate. In vivo studies suggested that [(64)Cu]Cu-2 was stable, with about 85 % of intact peptide in rat plasma at 2 h p.i. Biodistribution confirmed the renal pathway as the major elimination route. The uptake of [(64)Cu]Cu-2 in the kidney was 5.9 % ID/g at 5 min p.i. and decreased to 2.0 % ID/g at 60 min p.i. Due to the prospective radiochemical and radiopharmacological properties of the linear α-MSH derivative [(64)Cu]Cu-2, this conjugate is a promising candidate for tracer development in human melanoma imaging.

α-Melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) derivatives target the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) specifically and selectively. In this study, the α-MSH-derived peptide NAP-NS1 (Nle-Asp-His-d-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-NH2 ) with and without linkers was conjugated with 5-(bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)pentanoic acid (DPA-COOH) and labeled with [99m Tc]Tc-tricarbonyl by two methods. With the one-pot method the labeling was faster than with the two-pot method, while obtaining similarly high yields. Negligible trans-chelation and high stability in physiological solutions was determined for the [99m Tc]Tc-tricarbonyl-peptide conjugates. Coupling an ethylene glycol (EG)-based linker increased the hydrophilicity. The peptide derivatives displayed high binding affinity in murine B16F10 melanoma cells as well as in human MeWo and TXM13 melanoma cell homogenates. Preliminary in vivo studies with one of the [99m Tc]Tc-tricarbonyl-peptide conjugates showed good stability in blood and both renal and hepatobiliary excretion. Biodistribution was performed on healthy rats to gain initial insight into the potential relevance of the 99m Tc-labeled peptides for in vivo imaging.

The preparation of a series of short and versatile (eleven and twelve atom length) hydrophilic heterobifunctional linkers from low-cost chemicals using simple experimental setups is described. The approach can be used to connect high molecular weight bioactive molecules with azamacrocycles to enable radiolabeling with radiometals. The ring opening reaction of three cyclic anhydrides with 2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethanol afforded precursors 4a – c , which were subsequently converted into various heterobifunctional linkers for radiofluorination, Huisgen–Click approaches, or Staudinger ligation and for solid-phase peptide synthesis. As examples for successful building block ligation using the strain-promoted Huisgen cycloaddition on the one hand and the traceless Staudinger approach on the other hand, the Cetuximab antibody was modified by using 13a in a convenient two-step procedure.

The encapsulation of a nanometer-sized octahedral anionic rhenium cluster complex with six terminal hydroxo ligands [Re6S8(OH)6]4− in maltose-decorated poly(propylene amine) dendrimers (POPAM, generation 4 and 5) has been investigated. Ultrafiltration experiments showed that maximal loading capacity of the dendrimers with the cluster complex is achieved after about ten hours in aqueous solution. To study the inclusion phenomena, three different methods have been applied: UV/Vis, time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS), and laser-induced liquid bead ion desorption mass spectrometry (LILBID-MS). From the results obtained, it could be concluded that: a) the hydrolytic stability of the rhenium cluster complex is significantly enhanced in the presence of dendritic hosts; b) the cluster anions are preferentially bound inside the dendrimers; c) the number of cluster complexes encapsulated in the dendrimers increases with rising dendrimer generation. On average, four to five cluster anions can preferentially be captured in the interior of sugar-coated dendritic carriers. An asymptotic progression of the release of cluster complexes from the loaded dendrimers was observed under physiologically relevant conditions (isotonic sodium chloride solution: approximately 93 % within 4 days for loaded POPAM-G4-maltose; approximately 86 % within 4 days for loaded POPAM-G5-maltose). These encapsulation and release properties of maltose-decorated nanocarriers imply the possibility for the development of the next generation of dendritic nanocarriers with specific targeting of destined tissue for therapeutic treatments. Die Einlagerung eines nanometergrosen, oktaedrischen Rheniumcluster-Anions mit sechs terminalen Hydroxo-Liganden, [Re6S8(OH)6]4−, in - mit Maltose ummandelten - Polypropylenamin-Dendrimeren (POPAM) der 4. und 5. Generation wurde untersucht. Ultrafiltrationsexperimente zeigten, dass die maximale Beladungskapazitat der Dendrimere bezuglich des Cluster-Komplexes in wassriger Losung nach ca. 10 Stunden erreicht wurde. Zur Untersuchung des Einschlussphanomens wurden folgende Methoden angewandt: UV/Vis-Spektroskopie, time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS), laser-induced liquid bead ion desorption mass spectrometry (LILBID-MS). Die Ergebnisse lassen folgende Schlussfolgerungen zu: a) Die hydrolytische Stabilitat des Rheniumclusters wird in Gegenwart des Dendrimers deutlich erhoht. b) Die Cluster-Anionen werden bevorzugt innerhalb des Dendrimers gebunden, c) Die Anzahl der eingelagerten Cluster steigt mit zunehmender Dendrimer-Generation. Es werden durchschnittlich 4 bis 5 Cluster-Anionen im Inneren des dendritischen Tragers eingelagert. Unter physiologischen Bedingungen beobachtet man einen asymptotischen Verlauf der Abgabe des Clusters vom beladenen Dendrimer (isotonische NaCl-Losung: ∼93 % innerhalb von 4 Tagen fur POPAM-G4-Maltose; ∼86 % innerhalb von 4 Tage fur POPAM-G5-Maltose). Ausgehend vom beobachteten Einlagerungs- und Abgabeverhalten der mit Maltose ummantelten Nanocarrier bietet sich die Moglichkeit, eine neue Generation targetspezifischer dentritischer Nanocarrier fur therapeutische Behandlungen zu entwickeln.

A sophisticated coligand strategy is presented for peptide-derived radioconjugates based on (99m)Tc '4 + 1' mixed-ligand complexes. The new pharmacologically active coligands are assessed for (99m)Tc-labeling of the RGD-peptide cyclo(Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Tyr-Lys) which is an established vehicle to target alpha(v)beta(3) integrins playing a crucial part in tumor pathogenesis. Complexes of the general formula [(99m)Tc(NS(3)R)X] were synthesized and evaluated, in which Tc(III) is coordinated by NS(3)R, a derivative of the tetradentate chelator 2,2',2''-nitrilotriethanethiol (NS(3)), and by X, a monodentate binding isocyanide bearing the biomolecule. The novel tetradentate chelators (NS(3)R = NS(3)crown, NS(3)en, NS(3)(COOH)(3)) constitute NS(3) with a crown ether, an amine or a tricarboxylic acid as pharmacological modifiers. The isocyanides (X = L2-RGD, L2-Lys) contained the linker isocyanobutanoic acid (L2) coupled to N(6)-Lys of the RGD-peptide and additionally to a single Lys. The lipophilicity (distribution coefficient log D(O)(/W), pH = 7.4) of the RGD-containing radiotracers decreased in the order of the coligands NS(3)crown (-1.7 +/- 0.1), NS(3)en (-2.7 +/- 0.1) and NS(3)(COOH)(3) (-3.3 +/- 0.1). In the same order of the coligands, the biodistribution of the series [(99m)Tc(NS(3)R)(L2-RGD)] in normal rats showed a decrease of hepatobiliary and an increase of urinary excretion. The ratio of specifically to unspecifically uptaken activity (sum of surface bound and internalized activity) in alpha(v)beta(3) integrin-expressing M21 cells was in the range of approximately 4-5 and comparable for all [(99m)Tc(NS(3)R)(L2-RGD)] tracers. The biodistribution of [(99m)Tc(NS(3)en)(L2-RGD)] in nu/nu mice bearing M21 and M21L (control) tumor xenografts exhibited a specific tumor uptake with a low target-background ratio. The metabolic stability of the [(99m)Tc(NS(3)R)(L2-RGD)] tracers in normal rats was high, since 75-87% of the radioactivity in the plasma extract was assigned to the injected radiotracers 60 min after intravenous application in a rat. The hypothetical metabolites [(99m)Tc(NS(3)R)(L2-Lys)] were not found. These results demonstrate a considerable improvement of in vivo properties of (99m)Tc '4 + 1' peptide conjugates and open up the possibility of applying the labeling approach for further radiodiagnostic peptides.

Two novel macrocyclic ligands based on trans-substituted cyclam with N-methyl and N-(4-aminobenzyl) groups as well as with two methylphosphinic (H2L1) or methylphosphonic (H4L2) acid pendant arms were synthesised and investigated in solutions. The ligands form stable complexes with transition metal ions. Both ligands show a high thermodynamic selectivity for divalent copper over nickel(II) and zinc(II) (K(CuL) is higher than K(Ni/ZnL) by about 7 orders of magnitude). Complexation is significantly faster for the phosphonate ligand H4L2 probably due to stronger coordination ability of more basic phosphonate groups, which efficiently bind the metal ion in the out-of-cage complex and helps its in-cage binding. The rate of complexation of Cu(II) by the phosphinate ligand H2L1 is comparable to that of cyclam itself and it derivatives with non-coordinating substituents. Acid-assisted decomplexation of the copper(II) complexes is relatively fast (½ 44 and 42 s in 1 M aq. HCl at 25 °C for H2L1 and H4L2, respectively). Combination of the properties is convenient for selective copper removal/purification. Thus, the title ligands were employed in preparation of ion-selective resins for radiocopper(II) separation. Glycidyl-methacrylate copolymer beads were modified with the ligands through diazotation reaction. The separation ability of the modified polymers was tested with cold copper(II) or non-carrier-added (NCA) 64Cu in the presence of a high excess of both nickel(II) and zinc(II). The experiments exhibited high overall separation efficiency leading to 60–70 % recovery of radiocopper with high selectivity over the other metal ions originally present in 900-times molar excess. The results showed the concept of chelating resins with properly tuned selectivity of complexing moieties can be employed for radiocopper separation.

Force field parameters for the modeling of oxotechnetium(V) and oxorhenium(V) complexes with amine, amide, imine, carboxylate and thiolate donors have been derived and optimized based on 131 published solid state structures. An automated procedure, based on a simplex algorithm, was used to optimize the 35 sets of metal-dependent structural parameters for each metal ion. These were introduced into the established MOMEC97 force field. The application of the new force field in the prediction of a novel radiopharmaceutical’s structure was successful, the predicted structures of the two isomers compared well with the corresponding crystal structures obtained subsequently (RMS around the metal core: 0.153 and 0.035 A, respectively).

In an attempt to develop new technetium-based radiopharmaceuticals for the noninvasive diagnosis of myocardial metabolism, we have synthesized three examples of novel metal-containing fatty acid derivatives according to the “3+1” mixed-ligand and the Schiff base/tricarbonyl design. The chelates contain the metal core in the oxidation states +5 and +1, respectively, and are attached to the end-position of a fatty acid chain. The complex formation was accomplished by ligand-exchange reactions with three different rhenium precursors, whereas the inactive rhenium metal was utilized as a surrogate of the technetium radionuclide. The molecular structures of the fatty acid complexes 7, 10 and 14 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and impressively show a general problem in technetium tracer research, namely the significant structural alterations of bioactive molecules by coordination even to small metal chelates. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2002)

Tricarbonyldithioethermetal(I) complexes of rhenium and technetium with a pendant 3,17β-estradiol have been synthesized and characterized. The steroid ligand was bound to the metal centre by the two sulfur atoms of a 4,7-dithiaoct-1-ine spacer.

The title compound, [Re(C7H12NO2S3)(C18H15P)]·C3H6O, crystallizes from a solution in chloro­form–acetone–cyclo­­hexane with enantiomers disordered equally over each mol­ecular site. Hydrogen bonds between the carbox­yl groups form dimers in the crystal structure.

Aiming at the development of technetium-99m (99mTc) complexes for early detection and staging of EGFR positive tumors, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor 6-amino-4-[(3-bromophenyl)amino]quinazoline was derivatized with pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde to generate the imine 6-(pyridine-2-methylimine)-4-[(3-bromophenyl) amino]quinazoline suitable for reacting with the fac-[99mTc(CO)3]+ core as an N,N bidentate ligand. The labelling was performed in high yield (>90%) by ligand exchange reaction using fac-[99mTc(OH2)3(CO)3]+ as precursor. The 99mTc complex was characterized by comparative HPLC analysis using the analogous rhenium (Re) complex as reference. The Re complex was prepared by ligand exchange reaction using the fac-[ReBr3(CO)3]2- as precursor and was fully characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopies and elemental analysis. In vitro studies indicate that both the ligand and its Re complex inhibit the EGFR autophosphorylation (IC50: 17± 3.7 and 114 ± 23 nM respectively) in intact A431 cells, bind the receptor in a reversible mode, and inhibit A431 cell growth (IC50: 5.2 ± 1.1 and 2.0 ± 0.98 µM respectively). Biodistribution of the 99mTc complex in healthy animals showed a rather fast blood and soft tissue clearance between 1 and 15 min p.i. with excretion occurring mainly via the hepatobiliary system.

The electrophilic metal fragment [99mTc(N)(PNP)]2+ (PNP = diphosphane ligand) has been employed for the labeling of fatty acid chains of different lengths. To provide a site-specific group for the attachment of the metallic moiety, the fatty acid derivatives were functionalized by appending a bis-mercapto or, alternatively, a dithiocarbamato π-donor chelating systems to one terminus of the carbon chain to yield both dianionic and monoanionic bifunctional li-gands (L). The resulting complexes, [99mTc(N)(PNP)(L)]0/+, exhibited the usual asymmetrical structure in which a Tc≡N group was surrounded by two different bidentate chelating ligands. Dianionic ligands gave rise to neutral complexes, while monoanionic ligands afforded mono-cationic species. Biodistribution studies were carried out in rats. An isolated perfused rat heart model was employed to assess whether the new labeled fatty acids still were recognized as substrates for β-oxidation. Results showed that only monocationic complexes accumulated in myocardium to a significant extent. Conversely, neutral complexes were not efficiently re-tained into the heart region and rapidly washed out. In isolated perfused rat heart experiments, monocationic complexes exhibited a behavior similar to that of the monocationic flow tracers 99mTc-MIBI and 99mTc-DBODC with almost identical extraction values, a result that could be attributed to the presence of the monopositive charge. Instead, a slightly lower myocardial ex-traction was found for neutral complexes. Comparison of the observed kinetic behavior of neutral complexes in the isolated perfused rat heart model with that of the myocardial meta-bolic tracer [123I]IPPA revealed that the introduction of the metallic moiety partially hamper recognition of the labeled fatty acids by cardiac enzymes and, consequently, their behavior did not completely reflect myocardial metabolism.

A novel and efficient method for preparing 188Re(I) tricarbonyl precursor [188Re(OH2)3(CO)3]+ has been developed by reacting [188Re]perrhenate with Schibli's kit in the presence of borohydride exchange resin (BER) as a reducing agent and an anion scavenger. The precursor was produced in more than 97% yield by reacting a solution of tetrahydroborate exchange resin (BER, 3 mg), borane-ammonia (BH3.NH3, 3 mg), and potassium boranocarbonate (K2[H3BCO2], 3 mg) in 0.9% saline with a solution of sodium perrhenate (Na188ReO4) with up to 50 MBq and concentrated phosphoric acid (85%, 7 microL) at 60 degrees C for 15 min. HPLC and TLC revealed 0% unreacted [188Re]perrhenate ion and3% of colloidal 188ReO2. Since the precursor is produced with high radiochemical purity and labeling efficiency under the milder conditions than those required for the conventional reducing agents, the latter can be replaced.

A new biomolecule labeling method that utilizes the [99mTc(N)(PNP)]2+m metal fragment is presented. Thus, a series of nitrido mixed-ligand M(V) complexes (M = 99mTc, 99gTc, Re), [M(N)(Ln)(PNP)], where Ln is the dianionic form of a dithiolate or substituted-dithiolate ligand and PNP is an aminodiphosphine, is described. 99mTc complexes can be prepared using either a two-step or a three-step procedure starting from generator-eluted pertechnetate through a pre-reduced mixture of [99mTc(N)] containing species, followed by contemporary or sequential addition of the relevant dithiolate and aminodiphosphine. The reaction of 2,3-dimercapto propionic acid (H2L1) with [Tc(N)(PNP)]2+ was investigated in detail. It was found that this bidentate ligand coordinated the metal fragment through the [S-,S-] donor atom pair, to yield neutral mixed-ligand complexes [99mTc(N)(L1)(PNP)] in high specific activity. The additional carboxylic functional group was not involved in metal coordination, thus remaining available for conjugation to target-specific molecules. Dithiolates incorporating pendant functional group(s) gave rise to a 1:1 diastereoisomeric mixture of syn-[M(N)(Ln)(PNP)] and anti-[M(N)(Ln)(PNP)] derivatives, depending on the relative orientation of the dithiolate substituent(s) with respect to the terminal nitrido group, and no isomeric conversion was detected. 99mTc species had been proven to be identical with the 99gTc complexes prepared at the macroscopic level by comparison of the corresponding radiometric and UV/vis HPLC profiles. Challenge experiments with cysteine or glutathione indicated that these physiological agents had no effect on the stability of this class of mixed-ligand 99mTc-complexes. Biodistribution studies in rats of selected 99mTc-complexes showed a rapid clearance from the blood and tissues after 60 min. p.i..