Modified "4 + 1" mixed ligand technetium-labeled fatty acids for myocardial imaging: evaluation of myocardial uptake and biodistribution.

Our group previously synthesized 99m Tc-labeled fatty acids suitable for myocardial metabolism and flow imaging. In this set of experiments, 29 new analogues were synthesized according to the "4 + 1" mixed ligand approach with some specific differences. Conventional "4 + 1" 99m Tc-fatty acids are built in the sequence: Tc-chelate, alkyl chain, and carboxylic group. We developed compounds following a new design with the sequence: carboxylic group, alkyl chain, Tc-chelate, and lipophilic tail. Therefore, the 99m Tc-chelate was transferred to a more central position of the compound, aiming toward an improved myocardial profile and an accelerated liver clearance. In this context, several functional groups incorporated in the lipophilic tail section were tested to evaluate their influence on the compound's character. In addition to biodistribution studies in vivo, the myocardial first-pass extraction of the compounds was tested in an isolated Langendorff rat heart model. A satisfactory myocardial uptake of up to 20% of the injected dose (% ID) in the perfused heart and a fast liver clearance in vivo with only 0.29% ID/g at 60 min postinjection demonstrate that the induced molecular modifications affect the kinetics of 99m Tc-radiolabeled fatty acid compounds favorably. From the data set, rules for estimating the biodistribution of fatty acids tracers are deduced.

Myocardial uptake and biodistribution of newly designed technetium-labelled fatty acid analogues.

PURPOSE: In an effort to develop 99mTc-labelled fatty acids (FAs) for myocardial metabolism and flow imaging, several Tc analogues according to the '3+1' and the '4+1' mixed-ligand approach were synthesized and myocardial extraction was evaluated in non-working isolated guinea pig hearts. An example of biodistribution patterns in guinea pigs was determined by using one FA analogue. METHODS: The coordination moieties contain a +5, respectively +3, oxidation state metal core attached to the end position of a FA chain. FA complexes of the '3+1' and the '4+1' mixed-ligand type were prepared and investigated using the isolated heart model. To estimate the diagnostic value of the analogue 99mTc-FAs, the biodistribution of one well-extracted FA was evaluated. RESULTS: The '4+1' FA compounds achieved the highest uptake rates of all the technetium FAs investigated. In particular, the '4+1' 99mTc-C11-FA achieved at least a 2-fold higher ventricular extraction of the applied activity than the established control tracers including omega-(p-[123I]iodophenyl)pentadecanoic FAs (BMIPP and IPPA) and Tc-MIBI. Furthermore, the '4+1' dodecanoic FA derivative and the thiadodecanoic FA derivative showed an extraction comparable to established 123I-labelled tracers. Biodistribution experiments performed for the thiadodecanoic FA derivative indicated a good heart/blood and heart/lung ratio and also a high uptake in the liver. In contrast, '3+1' 99mTc complexes showed a low myocardial extraction rate. Nevertheless, the differentiation in the extraction profile, which depends on the FA chain length and structure, indicates a specific heart uptake of these 99mTc-labelled FA derivatives as well. CONCLUSIONS: The excellent extraction rates found for '4+1' 99mTc-FAs indicate possibly promising structures for innovative myocardial tracers.

Cluster core controlled reactions of substitution of terminal bromide ligands by triphenylphosphine in octahedral rhenium chalcobromide complexes.

Reactions of rhenium chalcobromides Cs4[{Re6(mu3-S)8}Br6].2H2O, Cs3[{Re6(mu3-Se)8}Br6].2H2O, Cs3[{Re6(mu3-Q)7(mu3-Br)}Br6].H2O (Q = S, Se), and K2[{Re6(mu3-S)6(mu3-Br)2}Br6] with molten triphenylphosphine (PPh3) have resulted in a family of novel molecular hybrid inorganic-organic cluster compounds. Six octahedral rhenium cluster complexes containing PPh3 ligands with general formula [{Re6(mu3-Q)8-n(mu3-Br)n}(PPh3)4-nBrn+2] (Q = S, n = 0, 1, 2; Q = Se, n = 0, 1) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction and elemental analyses, 31P{1H} NMR, luminescent measurements, and quantum-chemical calculations. It was found that the number of terminal PPh3 ligands in the complexes is controlled by the composition and consequently by the charge of the cluster core {Re6Q8-nBrn}n+2. In crystal structures of the complexes with mixed chalcogen/bromine ligands in the cluster core all positions of a cube [Q8-nBrn] are ordered and occupied exclusively by Q or Br atoms. Luminescence characteristics of the compounds trans-[{Re6Q8}(PPh3)4Br2] and fac-[{Re6Se7Br}(PPh3)3Br3] (Q = S, Se) have been investigated in CH2Cl2 solution and the broad emission spectra in the range of 600-850 nm were observed.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a new type of 99mtechnetium-labeled Fatty Acid for myocardial metabolism imaging.

Technetium-labeled fatty acids intended for myocardial metabolism imaging and the respective rhenium model complexes were synthesized according to the "4 + 1" mixed-ligand approach and investigated in vitro and in vivo. The non-radioactive rhenium model complexes were characterized by NMR, IR, and EA, and the geometrical impact of the chelate unit on the integrity of the fatty acid head structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray analyses. To estimate the diagnostic value of the 99mTc-labeled fatty acids, the compounds were investigated in experiments in vitro and in biodistribution studies using male Wistar rats. The new fatty acid tracers contain the metal core in the oxidation states +3, well-wrapped in a trigonal-bipyramidal coordination moiety, which is attached at the omega-position of a fatty acid chain. This structural feature is considered to be a good imitation of the well-established iodinated phenyl fatty acids. High heart extraction in perfused heart studies (up to 26% injected dose (ID)) and noticeable heart uptake of the 99mTc tracers in vivo being in the order of 2% ID/g at 5 min (postinjection, pi.), accompanied by a good heart to blood ratio of 8, confirms that the new Tc compounds are suitable as fatty acid tracers.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of tricarbonyl Re(I) and Tc(I) complexes anchored by poly(azolyl)borates: application on the design of radiopharmaceuticals for the targeting of 5-HT1A receptors.

The building blocks fac-[(99m)Tc{kappa(3)-HB(tim(Me))(3)}(CO)(3)] and fac-[(99m)Tc{kappa(3)-R(mu-H)B(tim(Me))(2)}(CO)(3)] [R is H (4a), Ph (5a); tim(Me) is 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazolyl] were obtained almost quantitatively by reacting fac-[(99m)Tc(CO)(3)(H(2)O)(3)](+) with the corresponding scorpionate. These compounds cross the intact blood-brain barrier in mice, with significant retention in the case of 4a and 5a. Using 4a as the lead structure, we have synthesized the functionalized complexes fac-[M{kappa(3)-H(mu-H)B(tim(Bu-pip))(2)}(CO)(3)] [M is Re (8), (99m)Tc (8a); tim(Bu-pip) is methyl[4-((2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)butyl](2-mercapto-1-methylimidazol-5-yl)methanamide] and fac-[M{kappa (3)-H(mu-H)B(tim(Me))(tim(Bu-pip))}(CO)(3)] [M is Re (9), (99m)Tc (9a)] and evaluated their potential as radioactive probes for the targeting of brain 5-HT(1A) serotonergic receptors. The Re complexes exhibit excellent affinity [IC(50)=0.172 +/- 0.003 nM (8); IC(50)=0.65 +/- 0.01 nM (9)] for the 5-HT(1A) receptor. The radioactive congeners ((99m)Tc) have shown an initial brain uptake of 1.38 +/- 0.46%ID g(-1) (8a) and 0.43 +/- 0.12%ID g(-1) (9a), but suffer from a relatively fast washout.

Novel rhenium chelate system derived from dimercaptosuccinic acid for the selective labeling of biomolecules.

This work is part of an effort to develop chelating agents for stable binding and easy conjugation of Re-188 to biologically interesting structures. Starting from the well-known in vivo stability of [(188)ReO(DMSA)(2)](-), we want to exploit this coordination system for the design of (188)ReO(V) chelates, which are stable toward reoxidation to perrhenate and toward ligand exchange under all conditions of radiopharmaceutical development. Therefore, a new type of tetradentate ligand has been synthesized by bridging two molecules of N,N'-diisobutyl-2,3-dimercaptosuccinamide with N-(3-aminopropyl)propane-1,3-diamine. The resulting stereoisomeric tetrathiolato S(4) ligand of composition ((i)()Bu)(2)N(O)C-C(SH)-C(SH)-C(O)NH-(CH(2))(3)-NH-(CH(2))(3)-NHC(O)-C(SH)-C(SH)-C(O)N((i)Bu)(2) forms anionic five-coordinate oxorhenium(V) complexes by a ligand-exchange reaction of NBu(4)[ReOCl(4)] in methanol. In the absence of a base, the compounds were isolated as "betaine", [ReO(S(4))], with the protonated nitrogen of the bridge serving as an internal "counterion". Two representatives have been fully characterized in both the solid and solution states and found to adopt the expected square-pyramidal coordination geometry. The equatorial plane is formed by four thiolate sulfur atoms, whereas the oxygen occupies the apical position. The orientation of the metal oxo group is exo in relation to the carbamido groups in both isomers. Both complexes are stereoisomeric regarding the junction of the triamine chain.

Mixed-ligand rhenium-188 complexes with tetradentate/monodentate NS3/P ('4 + 1') coordination: relation of structure with antioxidation stability.

Development of new radiopharmaceuticals based on rhenium-188 depends on finding appropriate ligands able to give complexes with high in vivo stability. Rhenium(III) mixed-ligand complexes with tetradentate/monodentate ('4 + 1') coordination of the general formula [Re(NS(3))(PRR'R' ')] (NS(3) = tris(2-mercaptoethyl)amine and derivatives thereof, PRR'R' ' = phosphorus(III) ligands) appear to be among the promising tools to achieve this goal. According to this approach, we synthesized and characterized a series of rhenium model complexes. In vitro stabilities of the corresponding rhenium-188 complexes were determined by incubating 2-3 MBq or alternatively 37 MBq of the complexes in phosphate buffer, human plasma, and rat plasma, respectively, at 22 degrees C or 37 degrees C, followed by checking the amount of (188)ReO(4)(-) formed after 1 h, 24, and 48 h by thin-layer chromatography. The rate of perrhenate formation varied over a wide range, depending primarily on the nature of the phosphorus(III) ligand. Physicochemical parameters of the corresponding nonradioactive rhenium complexes were analyzed in detail to find out the factors influencing their different stability and furthermore to design new substitution-inert '4 + 1' complexes. Tolman's cone angle of phosphorus(III) ligands and the lipophilic character of the inner coordination sphere were found to be crucial factors to build up stable rhenium '4 + 1' complexes. Additional information useful to describe electronic and steric properties of these compounds were selected from electronic spectra (wavelength of the Re-->S charge-transfer band), cyclovoltammetric measurements (E degrees of the Re(III)/Re(IV) couple), and NMR investigations ((31)P chemical shift of coordinated P(III) ligands).

Synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of neutral nitrido technetium(V) mixed ligand complexes containing dithiolates and aminodiphosphines. A novel system for linking technetium to biomolecules.

A new biomolecule labeling method that utilizes the [(99m)Tc(N)(PNP)](2+) metal fragment is presented. Thus, a series of nitrido mixed-ligand M(V) complexes (M = (99m)Tc, (99g)Tc, 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. (99m)Tc complexes can be prepared using either a two-step or a three-step procedure starting from generator-eluted pertechnetate through a prereduced mixture of [(99m)Tc(N)]-containing species, followed by sequential or contemporary addition of the relevant dithiolate and aminodiphosphine. The reactions of 2,3-dimercaptopropionic acid (H(2)L1) with [Tc(N)(PNP)](2+) were 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 [(99m)Tc(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. (99m)Tc species had been proven to be identical with the (99g)Tc 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 (99m)Tc-complexes. Biodistribution studies in rats of selected (99m)Tc-complexes showed a rapid clearance from the blood and tissues after 60 min pi.

Synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of technetium(III) complexes with tridentate/bidentate S,E,S/P,S coordination (E = O, N(CH(3)), S): a novel approach to robust technetium chelates suitable for linking the metal to biomolecules.

A novel type of mixed-ligand Tc(III) complexes, [Tc(SCH(2)CH(2)-E-CH(2)CH(2)S)(PR(2)S)] (E = S, N(CH(3)); PR(2)S = phosphinothiolate with R = aryl, alkyl) is described. These "3+2"-coordinated complexes can be prepared in a two-step reduction/substitution procedure via the appropriate chloro-containing oxotechnetium(V) complex [TcO(SES)Cl] [E=S, N(CH(3)]. Tc(III) compounds have been fully characterized both in solid and solution states and found to adopt the trigonal-bipyramidal coordination geometry. The equatorial trigonal plane is formed by three thiolate sulfur atoms, whereas the phosphorus of the bidentate P,S ligand and the neutral donor of the tridentate chelator occupy the apical positions. The (99)Tc(III) complexes have been proven to be identical with the (99m)Tc agents prepared at the no-carrier-added level by comparison of the corresponding UV/vis and radiometric HPLC profiles. Challenge experiments with glutathione clearly indicate that this tripeptide has no effect on the stability of the (99m)Tc complexes in solutions. Biodistribution studies have been carried out in rats at 5 and 120 min postinjection. The substituents at the bidentate P,S ligand significantly influence the biodistribution pattern. Remarkable differences are observed especially in brain, blood, lungs, and liver. All the complexes are able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier of rats and showed a relatively fast washout from the brain.