Novel AlF-NOTA-Conjugated Lactam-Cyclized α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Peptides with Enhanced Melanoma Uptake.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of linker on tumor targeting and biodistribution of AlF-NOTA-PEGNle-CycMSH {AlF-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triyl-triacetic acid-poly(ethylene glycol)-Nle-c[Asp-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-CONH} and AlF-NOTA-AocNle-CycMSH {AlF-NOTA-8-aminooctanoic acid-Nle-CycMSH} on melanoma-bearing mice. NOTA-PEGNle-CycMSH and NOTA-AocNle-CycMSH were synthesized using fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry. The melanocortin-1 (MC1) receptor binding affinities of the peptides were determined on B16/F10 melanoma cells. The biodistribution of AlF-NOTA-PEGNle-CycMSH and AlF-NOTA-AocNle-CycMSH was determined on B16/F10 melanoma-bearing C57 mice. The melanoma imaging property of AlF-NOTA-PEGNle-CycMSH was further examined on B16/F10 melanoma-bearing C57 mice because of its higher melanoma uptake and lower renal uptake than that of AlF-NOTA-AocNle-CycMSH. The IC values of NOTA-PEG/AocNle-CycMSH were 1.24 ± 0.07 and 2.75 ± 0.48 nM on B10/F10 cells. AlF-NOTA-PEGNle-CycMSH and AlF-NOTA-AocNle-CycMSH were readily prepared with more than 55% of radiolabeling yields and displayed melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R)-specific binding on B16/F10 cells. AlF-NOTA-PEGNle-CycMSH exhibited higher tumor uptake and lower kidney and liver uptake than AlF-NOTA-AocNle-CycMSH at 1 and 2 h post injection. The tumor and renal uptakes of AlF-NOTA-PEGNle-CycMSH were 17.44 ± 0.76 and 2.07 ± 0.43% ID/g at 1 h post injection, respectively. AlF-NOTA-PEGNle-CycMSH showed the high tumor to normal organ uptake ratios after 1 h post injection. The B16/F10 melanoma lesions could be clearly visualized by positron emission tomography (PET) using AlF-NOTA-PEGNle-CycMSH as an imaging probe at 1 and 2 h post injection. Overall, high tumor uptake, low kidney and liver uptake, and fast urinary clearance of AlF-NOTA-PEGNle-CycMSH highlighted its potential as an MC1R-targeted imaging probe for melanoma detection.