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The synthesis, stoichiometry, and structural characterization of a homoleptic, cationic europium(III) complex with three neutral tetraalkyldiglycolamide ligands are reported. The tri(bismuth tetrachloride)tris(N,N,N',N'-tetra-n-octyldiglycolamide)Eu salt, [Eu(TODGA)3][(BiCl4)3] obtained from methanol was examined by Eu L3-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to reveal an inner-sphere coordination of Eu(3+) that arises from 9 O atoms and two next-nearest coordination spheres that arise from 6 carbon atoms each. A structural model is proposed in which each TODGA ligand with its O=Ca-Cb-O-Cb-Ca=O backbone acts as a tridentate O donor, where the two carbonyl O atoms and the one ether O atom bond to Eu(3+). Given the structural rigidity of the tridentate coordination motif in [Eu(TODGA)3](3+) with six 5-membered chelate rings, the six Eu-Ca and six Eu-Cb interactions are readily resolved in the EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) spectrum. The three charge balancing [BiCl4](-) anions are beyond the cationic [Eu(TODGA)3](3+) cluster in an outer sphere environment that is too distant to be detected by XAS. Despite their sizeable length and propensity for entanglement, the four n-octyl groups of each TODGA (for a total of twelve) do not perturb the Eu(3+) coordination environment over that seen from previously reported single-crystal structures of tripositive lanthanide (Ln(3+)) complexes with tetraalkyldiglycolamide ligands (of the same 1:3 metal-to-ligand ratio stoichiometry) but having shorter i-propyl and i-butyl groups. The present results set the foundation for understanding advanced solvent extraction processes for the separation of the minor, tripositive actinides (Am, Cm) from the Ln(3+) ions in terms of the local structure of Eu(3+) in a solid state coordination complex with TODGA.

A method for preparation of Pb-212 and Pb-203 labeled chelator-modified peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals for cancer imaging and radionuclide therapy has been developed and adapted for automated clinical production. Pre-concentration and isolation of radioactive Pb2+ from interfering metals in dilute hydrochloric acid was optimized using a commercially-available Pb-specific chromatography resin packed in disposable plastic columns. The pre-concentrated radioactive Pb2+ is eluted in NaOAc buffer directly to the reaction vessel containing chelator-modified peptides. Radiolabeling was found to proceed efficiently at 85°C (45min; pH 5.5). The specific activity of radiolabeled conjugates was optimized by separation of radiolabeled conjugates from unlabeled peptide via HPLC. Preservation of bioactivity was confirmed by in vivo biodistribution of Pb-203 and Pb-212 labeled peptides in melanoma-tumor-bearing mice. The approach has been found to be robustly adaptable to automation and a cassette-based fluid-handling system (Modular Lab Pharm Tracer) has been customized for clinical radiopharmaceutical production. Our findings demonstrate that the Pb-203/Pb-212 combination is a promising elementally-matched radionuclide pair for image-guided radionuclide therapy for melanoma, neuroendocrine tumors, and potentially other cancers.

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