PET imaging of bacterial infections with fluorine-18-labeled maltohexaose.

A positron emission tomography (PET) tracer composed of (18)F-labeled maltohexaose (MH(18)F) can image bacteria in vivo with a sensitivity and specificity that are orders of magnitude higher than those of fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)FDG). MH(18)F can detect early-stage infections composed of as few as 10(5) E. coli colony-forming units (CFUs), and can identify drug resistance in bacteria in vivo.

Synthesis, radiolabeling, and biological evaluation of (R)- and (S)-2-amino-3-[(18)F]fluoro-2-methylpropanoic acid (FAMP) and (R)- and (S)-3-[(18)F]fluoro-2-methyl-2-N-(methylamino)propanoic acid (NMeFAMP) as potential PET radioligands for imaging brain tumors.

The non-natural amino acids (R)- and (S)-2-amino-3-fluoro-2-methylpropanoic acid 5 and (R)- and (S)-3-fluoro-2-methyl-2-N-(methylamino)propanoic acid 8 were synthesized in shorter reaction sequences than in the original report starting from enantiomerically pure (S)- and (R)-alpha-methyl-serine, respectively. The reaction sequence provided the cyclic sulfamidate precursors for radiosynthesis of (R)- and (S)-[(18)F]5 and (R)- and (S)-[(18)F]8 in fewer steps than in the original report. (R)- and (S)-[(18)F]5 and(R)- and (S)-[(18)F]8 were synthesized by no-carrier-added nucleophilic [(18)F]fluorination in 52-66% decay-corrected yields with radiochemical purity over 99%.

Stereoselective synthesis and biological evaluation of syn-1-amino-3-[18F]fluorocyclobutyl-1-carboxylic acid as a potential positron emission tomography brain tumor imaging agent.

Amino acid syn-1-amino-3-fluoro-cyclobutyl-1-carboxylic acid (syn-FACBC) 12, the isomer of anti-FACBC, has been selectively synthesized and [(18)F] radiofluorinated in 52% decay-corrected yield using no-carrier-added [(18)F]fluoride. The key step in the synthesis of the desired isomer involved stereoselective reduction using lithium alkylborohydride/zinc chloride, which improved the ratio of anti-alcohol to syn-alcohol from 17:83 to 97:3. syn-FACBC 12 entered rat 9L gliosarcoma cells primarily via L-type amino acid transport in vitro with high uptake of 16% injected dose per 5 x 10(5) cells.

Synthesis, radiosynthesis, and biological evaluation of fluorine-18-labeled 2beta-carbo(fluoroalkoxy)-3beta-(3'-((Z)-2-haloethenyl)phenyl)nortropanes: candidate radioligands for in vivo imaging of the serotonin transporter with positron emission tomography.

The meta-vinylhalide fluoroalkyl ester nortropanes 1-4 were synthesized as ligands of the serotonin transporter (SERT) for use as positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents. In vitro competition binding assays demonstrated that 1-4 have a high affinity for the SERT (K(i) values = 0.3-0.

Synthesis and evaluation of [123I] labeled iodovinyl amino acids syn-, anti-1-amino-3-[2-iodoethenyl]-cyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid, and 1-amino-3-iodomethylene-cyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid as potential SPECT brain tumor imaging agents.

syn- and anti-1-amino-3-[2-iodoethenyl]-cyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid (syn-, anti-IVACBC 16, 17) and their analogue 1-amino-3-iodomethylene-cyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid (gem-IVACBC 18) were synthesized and radioiodoinated with [(123)I] in 34-43% delay-corrected yield. All these amino acids entered 9L gliosarcoma cells primarily via L-type transport in vitro with high uptake of 8-10% ID/1 x 10(6) cells. Biodistribution studies of [(123)I]16, 17 and 18 in rats with 9L gliosarcoma brain tumors demonstrated high tumor to brain ratios (4.

First evaluation of a 99mTc-tricarbonyl complex, 99mTc(CO)3(LAN), as a new renal radiopharmaceutical in humans.

Unlabelled: (99m)Tc-Mercaptoacetyltriglycine ((99m)Tc-MAG3), (99m)Tc-dd- and ll-ethylene-dicysteine ((99m)Tc-EC), and (99m)Tc-mercaptoacetamide-ethylene-cysteine ((99m)Tc-MAEC) contain N(3)S or N(2)S(2) ligands designed to accommodate the 4 ligating sites of the ((99m)TcO)(3+) core; they are all excellent renal imaging agents but have renal clearances lower than that of (131)I-orthoiodohippurate ((131)I-OIH). To explore the potential of the newly accessible but less polar [(99m)Tc(CO)(3)](+) core with 3 ligating sites, we decided to build on the success of (99m)Tc-EC, with its N(2)S(2) ligand and 2 dangling carboxylate groups; we chose an N(2)S ligand that also has 2 dangling carboxylate groups, lanthionine, to form (99m)Tc(CO)(3)(LAN), a new renal radiopharmaceutical.

Methods: Biodistribution studies were performed on Sprague-Dawley rats with (99m)Tc(CO)(3)(LAN) isomers, meso-LAN and dd,ll-LAN (an enantiomeric mixture), coinjected with (131)I-OIH.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of trans-3-phenyl-1-indanamines as potential norepinephrine transporter imaging agents.

The development of radioligands suitable for studying the central nervous system (CNS) norepinephrine transporter (NET) in vivo will provide important new tools for examining the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders including major depression. Towards this end, a series of trans-3-phenyl-1-indanamine derivatives were prepared and evaluated in vitro. The biological properties of the most promising compound, [(11)C]3-BrPA, were investigated in rat biodistribution and nonhuman primate PET studies.

Synthesis and characterization of EADAM: a selective radioligand for mapping the brain serotonin transporters by positron emission tomography.

[11C]N,N-Dimethyl-2-(2'-amino-4'-ethylphenylthio)benzylamine ([11C]EADAM) was synthesized in the development of a serotonin transporter (SERT) imaging ligand for positron emission tomography (PET). The methods of ligand synthesis, results of in vitro characterization, 11C labeling and in vivo micro-PET imaging studies of [11C]EADAM in cynomolgus monkey brain are described. 11C was introduced into N,N-dimethyl-2-(2'-amino-4'-ethylphenylthio)benzylamine (5) by alkylation of N-methyl-2-(2'-amino-4'-ethylphenylthio)benzylamine (10) in 32% radiochemical yield (end of bombardment [EOB], decay-corrected from [11C]methyl iodide).

Synthesis and biological evaluation of [11C]talopram and [11C]talsupram: candidate PET ligands for the norepinephrine transporter.

PET and SPECT ligands for the norepinephrine transporter (NET) will be important tools for studying the physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology of the CNS noradrenergic system in vivo. A series of candidate NET ligands were synthesized and characterized in terms of their affinity for human monoamine transporters. The two most promising compounds, talopram and talsupram, were radiolabeled with carbon-11 and evaluated through biodistribution studies in rats and PET imaging studies in a rhesus monkey.

99mTc-MAEC complexes: new renal radiopharmaceuticals combining characteristics of (99m)Tc-MAG3 and (99m)Tc-EC.

Unlabelled: 99mTc-Mercaptoacetyltriglycine ((99m)Tc-MAG3) and (99m)Tc-L,L-ethylenedicysteine ((99m)Tc-LL-EC) are useful renal radiopharmaceuticals; however, both agents have renal clearances less than that of (131)I-orthoiodohippurate ((131)I-OIH), and (99m)Tc-LL-EC exists in dianionic and monoanionic forms at physiologic pH. In an effort to develop a superior (99m)Tc agent with a rapid clearance comparable with that of (131)I-OIH, we have designed a new ligand system, mercaptoacetamide-ethylene-cysteine (MAEC), which combines important structural features of both MAG3 and EC.

Methods: Biodistribution and clearance studies were performed on Sprague-Dawley rats using syn- and anti-(99m)Tc-L- and -D-MAEC coinjected with (131)I-OIH.

Synthesis, radiosynthesis, and biological evaluation of carbon-11 and iodine-123 labeled 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-[4'-((Z)-2-haloethenyl)phenyl]tropanes: candidate radioligands for in vivo imaging of the serotonin transporter.

2beta-Carbomethoxy-3beta-[4'-((Z)-2-iodoethenyl)phenyl]tropane (ZIET) and 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-[4'-((Z)-2-bromoethenyl)phenyl]tropane (ZBrET) were synthesized as well as their nortropane congeners ZIENT and ZBrENT. Binding affinities of these compounds were determined in cells transfected to express human SERT, DAT, and NET using [3H]citalopram, [125I]RTI-55, and [3H]nisoxetine, respectively. Both ZIET and ZBrET displayed high affinity for the SERT (Ki = 0.

Synthesis and evaluation of 2-amino-4-[(18)F]fluoro-2-methylbutanoic acid (FAMB): relationship of amino acid transport to tumor imaging properties of branched fluorinated amino acids.

Radiolabeled amino acids represent a promising class of tumor imaging agents, and the determination of the optimal characteristics of these tracers remains an area of active investigation. A new (18)F-labeled branched amino acid, 2-amino-4-[(18)F]fluoro-2-methylbutanoic acid (FAMB), has been prepared in 36% decay-corrected yield using no-carrier-added [(18)F]fluoride. In vitro uptake assays with rat 9L gliosarcoma cells suggest that [(18)F]FAMB was transported primarily via the L type amino acid transport system.

Synthesis of syn- and anti-1-amino-3-[18F]fluoromethyl-cyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid (FMACBC), potential PET ligands for tumor detection.

syn- and anti-1-amino-3-[18F]fluoromethyl-cyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid (FMACBC, 16 and 17), analogues of anti-1-amino-3-[18F]fluorocyclobutyl-1-carboxylic acid (FACBC), were prepared to evaluate the contributions of C-3 substitution and configuration on the uptake of these radiolabeled amino acids in a rodent model of brain tumors. Radiofluorinated targets [18F]16 and [18F]17 were prepared by no-carrier-added radiofluorination from their corresponding methanesulfonyl esters 12 and 13, respectively, with decay-corrected radiochemical yields of 30% for [18F]16 and 20% for [18F]17. In amino acid transport assays performed in vitro using 9L gliosarcoma cells, both [18F]16 and [18F]17 were substrates for L type amino acid transport, while [18F]17 but not [18F]16 was a substrate for A type transport.

Radiolabeled amino acids for tumor imaging with PET: radiosynthesis and biological evaluation of 2-amino-3-[18F]fluoro-2-methylpropanoic acid and 3-[18F]fluoro-2-methyl-2-(methylamino)propanoic acid.

Novel radiopharmaceuticals, including amino acids, that target neoplasms through their altered metabolic states have shown promising results in preclinical and clinical studies. Two fluorinated analogues of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, 2-amino-3-fluoro-2-methylpropanoic acid (FAMP) and 3-fluoro-2-methyl-2-(methylamino)propanoic acid (N-MeFAMP), have been radiolabeled with fluorine-18, characterized in amino acid uptake assays, and evaluated in vivo in normal rats and a rodent tumor model. The key steps in the syntheses of both radiotracers involved the preparation of cyclic sulfamidate precursors.