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Positron emission tomography (PET)–fluorescence imaging is an emerging field of multimodality imaging seeking to attain synergy between the two techniques. The probes employed in PET–fluorescence imaging incorporate both a fluorophore and radioisotope which enable complementary information to be obtained from both imaging techniques via the administration of a single agent. Fluorine‐18 is the most commonly used radioisotope in PET imaging and consequently many novel attempts to radiofluorinate various fluorophores have transpired over the past decade. In this Minireview, the most relevant fluorine‐18 labelled PET–fluorescence probes have been classified into four groups as per the implemented fluorophore: 1) boron‐dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes, 2) cyanine dyes, 3) alternative organic fluorophores and 4) organometallics, such as quantum dots (QDs) and rhenium complexes. The biological, radiochemical and photophysical properties of each probe have been systematically compared to aid future endeavours in PET–fluorescence chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The syntheses of rhenium(I) complexes were achieved under flow microfluidic conditions. The use of a single microreactor was applied towards complexation of the 6‐chloro‐2,2'‐bipyridine diimine ligand, with ideal complexation conditions around 170 °C. Subsequent radiolabelling with [18F]fluoride was further achieved by flowing through a second heated microreactor, alongside a stream of dried radiofluorination media. Temperature modulation across both microreactors resulted in 23.6 % and 37.0 % radiochemical yield (RCY) of [18F]6‐fluoro‐2,2'‐bipyridine and its associated [18F]tricarbonyl(2‐fluoro‐2,2'‐bipyridine)rhenium(I) chloride complex, respectively. Translation of this set‐up to the synthesis of the [18F]CABS13 Alzheimer's disease positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent was achieved with the incorporation of a third microreactor to enable thermal control of the complexation, fluorination and decomplexation pathways. Optimal RCYs of 2.7 % and 1.9 % of [18F]CABS13 and its rhenium(I) complexation were achieved in‐flow, respectively. However, discrepancies in the RCYs were found to arise from differences in the grade of anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) employed in the continuous‐flow reactions. Anhydrous DMSO from Sigma‐Aldrich (≤ 99.9 %) in former experiments afforded higher yielders in comparison to replicate experiments employing anhydrous DMSO from Merck Millipore (≤ 99.7 %), thus demonstrating that control of the solvent grade is key to optimizing reaction RCYs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorine‐18 is the most utilized radioisotope in positron emission tomography (PET), but the wide application of fluorine‐18 radiopharmaceuticals is hindered by its challenging labelling conditions. As such, many potentially important radiotracers remain underutilized. Herein, we describe the use of [18F]ethenesulfonyl fluoride (ESF) as a novel radiofluoride relay reagent that allows radiofluorination reactions to be performed in minimally equipped satellite nuclear medicine centres. [18F]ESF has a simple and reliable production route and can be stored on inert cartridges. The cartridges can then be shipped remotely and the trapped [18F]ESF can be liberated by simple solvent elution. We have tested 18 radiolabelling precursors, inclusive of model and clinically used structures, and most precursors have demonstrated comparable radiofluorination efficiencies to those obtained using a conventionally dried [18F]fluoride source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conjugations with the recently developed [18F]ethenesulfonyl fluoride ([18F]ESF) were performed on 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline, in its free form and coordinated to a rhenium(i) tricarbonyl complex, as a means of radiosynthesizing dual-modal optical and positron emission tomography (PET) tracers. The Michael-donating ability of the aromatic amine was noticeably perturbed on coordination with the rhenium(i) centre, resulting in decreased radiochemical yields from 34 %, in the case of the free ligand, to 1 %. We attribute the decreased nucleophilicity of the amine to metal deactivation from the electron-withdrawing feature of the rhenium(i) tricarbonyl centre, based on spectroscopic and computational evidence, thus highlighting this effect as a crucial parameter in designing late-stage metal coordination methods employing related aza-Michael additions. Photophysical analyses were also performed on the ESF-conjugated rhenium(i) complex, exhibiting a longer decay lifetime from the triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer excited state when compared with the non-conjugated analogue. The perturbation caused by rhenium(i) on the nucleophilicity of a Michael donor is reported in this study, with greater radiochemical yields attributed to conjugation of the free ligand with an [18F]ethenesulfonyl fluoride prosthetic group than with the metal complex. DFT analyses were performed towards elucidating the reaction mechanism, alongside photophysical analyses, which provide the basis for further development of rhenium(i)-based PET optical tracers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorine‐18 labelled prosthetic groups (PGs) are often necessary for radiolabelling sensitive biological molecules such as peptides and proteins. Several shortcomings, however, often diminish the final yield of radiotracer. In an attempt to provide higher yielding and operationally efficient tools for radiolabelling biological molecules, we describe herein the first radiochemical synthesis of [18F]ethenesulfonyl fluoride ([18F]ESF) and its Michael conjugation with amino acids and proteins. The synthesis of [18F]ESF was optimised using a microfluidic reactor under both carrier‐added (c.a.) and no‐carrier‐added (n.c.a.) conditions, affording, in a straightforward procedure, 30‐50% radiochemical yield (RCY) for c.a. [18F]ESF and 60‐70% RCY for n.c.a. [18F]ESF. The conjugation reactions were performed at room temperature using 10 mg/mL precursor in aqueous/organic solvent mixtures for 15 min. The radiochemical stability of the final conjugates was evaluated in injectable formulation and rat serum, and resulted strongly substrate dependent and generally poor in rat serum. Therefore, in this work we have optimised a straightforward synthesis of [18F]ESF and its Michael conjugation with model compounds, without requiring chromatographic purification. However, given the general low stability of the final products, further studies will be required for improving conjugate stability, before assessing the use of this PG for PET imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]