Positron emission tomography (PET) using copper-64 is a sensitive and non-invasive imaging technique for diagnosis and staging of cancer. A bifunctional chelator that can present rapid radiolabeling kinetics and high complex stability with 64Cu is a critical component for targeted PET imaging. Bifunctional chelates 3p-C-NE3TA, 3p-C-NOTA, and 3p-C-DE4TA were evaluated for complexation kinetics and stability with 64Cu in vitro and in vivo. Hexadentate 3p-C-NOTA and heptadentate 3p-C-NE3TA possess a smaller TACN-based macrocyclic backbone, while nonadentate 3p-C-DE4TA is constructed on a larger CYCLEN-based ring. The frequently explored chelates of 64Cu, octadentate C-DOTA and hexadentate C-NOTA were also comparatively evaluated. Radiolabeling kinetics of bifunctional chelators with 64Cu was assessed under mild conditions. All bifunctional chelates instantly bound to 64Cu in excellent radiolabeling efficiency at room temperature. C-DOTA was less efficient in binding 64Cu than all other chelates. All 64Cu-radiolabeled bifunctional chelates remained stable in human serum without any loss of 64Cu for 2 days. When challenged by an excess amount of EDTA, 64Cu complexes of 3p-C-NE3TA and 3p-C-NOTA were shown to be more stable than 64Cu-C-DOTA and 64Cu-C-DE4TA. 3p-C-NE3TA and 3p-C-NOTA displayed comparable in vitro and in vivo complex stability to 64Cu-C-NOTA. In vivo biodistribution result indicates that the 64Cu-radiolabeled complexes of 3p-C-NOTA and 3p-C-NE3TA possess excellent in vivo complex stability, while 64Cu-3p-C-DE4TA was dissociated as evidenced by high renal and liver retention in mice. The results of in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that the bifunctional chelates 3p-C-NOTA and 3p-C-NE3TA offer excellent chelation chemistry with 64Cu for potential PET imaging applications.

Zevalin® is an antibody-drug conjugate radiolabeled with a cytotoxic radioisotope (90Y) that was approved for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A bifunctional ligand that displays favorable complexation kinetics and in vivo stability is required for effective RIT. New bifunctional ligands 3p-C-DE4TA and 3p-C-NE3TA for potential use in RIT were efficiently prepared by the synthetic route based on regiospecific ring opening of aziridinium ions with prealkylated triaza- or tetraaza-backboned macrocycles. The new bifunctional ligands 3p-C-DE4TA and 3p-C-NE3TA along with the known bimodal ligands 3p-C-NETA and 3p-C-DEPA were comparatively evaluated for potential use in targeted radiotherapy using β-emitting radionuclides 90Y and 177Lu. The bifunctional ligands were evaluated for radiolabeling kinetics with 90Y and 177Lu, and the corresponding 90Y or 177Lu-radiolabeled complexes were studied for in vitro stability in human serum and in vivo biodistribution in mice. The results of the comparative complexation kinetic and stability studies indicate that size of macrocyclic cavity, ligand denticity, and bimodality of donor groups have a substantial impact on complexation of the bifunctional ligands with the radiolanthanides. The new promising bifunctional chelates in the DE4TA and NE3TA series were rapid in binding 90Y and 177Lu, and the corresponding 90Y- and 177Lu-radiolabeled complexes remained inert in human serum or in mice. The in vitro and in vivo data show that 3p-C-DE4TA and 3p-C-NE3TA are promising bifunctional ligands for targeted radiotherapy applications of 90Y and 177Lu.

Various aziridinium salts were efficiently prepared from bromination of a series of backbone substituted N,N-bisubstituted beta-amino alcohols and isolated via flash column chromatography. The effect of C-substitution, N-substitution, solvent, leaving group, and counteranions on formation of the isolable aziridinium salts was investigated.

A series of new hexadentate and pentadentate chelators were designed and synthesized as chelators of 64Cu. The new pentadentate and hexadentate chelators contain different types of donor groups and are expected to form neutral complexes with Cu(II). The new chelators were evaluated for complex kinetics and stability with 64Cu. The new chelators instantly bound to 64Cu with high labeling efficiency and maximum specific activity. All 64Cu-radiolabeled complexes in human serum remained intact for 2 days. The 64Cu-radiolabeled complexes were further challenged by EDTA in a 100-fold molar excess. Among the 64Cu-radiolabeled complexes evaluated, 64Cu-complex of the new chelator E was well tolerated with a minimal transfer of 64Cu to EDTA. 64Cu-radiolabeled complex of the new chelator E was further evaluated for biodistribution studies using mice and displayed rapid blood clearance and low organ uptake. 64Cu-chelator E produced a favorable in vitro and in vivo complex stability profiles comparable to 64Cu complex of the known hexadentate NOTA chelator. The in vitro and in vivo data highlight strong potential of the new chelator E for targeted PET imaging application.

We report the synthesis and evaluation of an enantiomerically enriched bifunctional chelator, (S)‐C‐NE3TA. The bifunctional chelator was efficiently prepared by regioselective and stereoselective ring opening of an aziridinium ion. The new chiral chelator instantly and almost completely bound to 64Cu at room temperature. The corresponding 64Cu‐radiolabeled complex remained intact in human serum for 48 h without any measurable transchelation and was tolerant to a rigorous EDTA challenge for 24 h. The 64Cu‐radiolabeled (S)‐C‐NE3TA complex was stable in mice and produced an excellent biodistribution profile. The results of the in vitro and in vivo evaluations indicate that the new optically active chelator is a promising candidate for PET imaging applications.