The preparation and use of bispidine derivatives (3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) as chelate ligands for radioactive copper isotopes for diagnosis (64Cu) or therapy (67Cu) are reported. Starting from the hexadentate bispidine-based bis(amine)tetrakis(pyridine) ligand 1 with a keto and two ester substituents, the corresponding mono-ol 2 and two dicarboxylic acid derivatives 3 and 5 have been synthesized. A range of techniques, including single-crystal X-ray structure analysis, UV/vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, thin-layer- (TLC), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), have been used to characterize the structure and stability of the copper(II)-bispidine complexes. A rapid formation (within 1 min) of stable copper(II)-bispidine complexes under mild conditions (ambient temperature, aqueous solution) has been observed. Challenge experiments of these complexes in the presence of a high excess of competing ligands, such as glutathione, cyclam, or superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as in rat plasma, gave no evidence of demetalation or transchelation. The bifunctional bispidine derivative 5 can be readily functionalized with biologically active molecules at the pendant carboxylate groups. The coupling of a bombesin analogue betahomo-Glu-betaAla-betaAla-[Cha(13),Nle(14)]BBN(7-14), by condensation of a carboxylate of the bispidine backbone with the N-terminus of the peptide produced the bifunctional ligand 6. The radiocopper(II) complex of this bombesin-bispidine conjugate has a considerable hydrophilicity (log D(o/w) < -2.4), and this leads to a very fast blood clearance (blood: 0.28 +/- 0.02 SUV, 1 h p.i.), low liver tissue accumulation (liver: 1.20 +/- 0.27 SUV, 1 h p.i.), and rapid renal-urinary excretion (kidneys: 6.06 +/- 2.96 SUV, 1 h p.i.) as shown by biodistribution studies of 64Cu-6 in Wistar rats. Preliminary in vivo studies of 64Cu-6 in NMRI nu/nu mice, bearing the human prostate tumor PC-3 showed an accumulation of the conjugate in the tumor (2.25 +/- 0.13 SUV, 12.5 min p.i.; 0.94 +/- 0.05 SUV, 55 min p.i.) and allowed a clear visualization of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor distribution by positron emission tomography (PET).

A new ligand derivative of 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (TACN), 2-[4,7-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononan-1-yl]acetic acid ( 6), has been synthesized and its complexation behavior toward Cu2+ ions investigated. The ligand 6 has been characterized by spectroscopic methods, and a molecular structure of a corresponding Cu(II) complex has been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The suitability of 6 for conjugation to peptide substrates has been shown by amide coupling of 6 to the stabilized derivative of bombesin (BN), beta Ala-beta Ala-[Cha13, Nle14]BN(7-14), to give the conjugate 8. The free ligand 6 and the bioconjugate 8 were labeled with 64Cu2+, and the resulting complexes, 64Cu subset6 and 64Cu subset8 , were found to be stable in the presence of a large excess of a competing ligand (cyclam) or copper-seeking superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as in rat plasma. Biodistribution studies of 64Cu subset8 in Wistar rats showed a high activity uptake into the pancreas (5.76 +/- 0.25 SUV, 5 min p.i.; 3.93 +/- 0.25 SUV, 1 h p.i.), which is the organ with high levels of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR). This receptor is overexpressed in a large number of breast and prostate carcinomas. The novel 64Cu subset6 complex had a dominating influence on the nonspecific activity biodistribution of its BN conjugate, since the distribution data of 64Cu subset6 are similar to those of 64Cu subset8 . The 64Cu complexes exhibited a low activity accumulation in the liver tissue and an extensive renal clearance, which was distinctively different to the biodistribution of 64CuCl 2, suggesting that 64Cu subset6 does not undergo significant demetalation, but rather exhibits high in vivo stability.

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