We report a practical and high yield synthesis of a bimodal bifunctional ligand 3p-C-NETA-NCS containing the isothiocyanate group for conjugation to a tumor targeting antibody. 3p-C-NETA-NCS was conjugated to a tumor-targeting antibody, trastuzumab, and the corresponding 3p-C-NETA-trastuzumab conjugate was evaluated and compared to trastuzumab conjugates of the known bifunctional ligands C-DOTA, C-DTPA, C-NOTA, and 3p-C-DEPA for radiolabeling kinetics with 90Y and 177Lu. 3p-C-NETA-trastuzumab conjugate exhibited extremely rapid complexation kinetics with 90Y and 177Lu. 90Y-3p-C-NETA-trastuzumab and 177Lu-3p-C-NETA-trastuzumab conjugates were stable in human serum for 2 weeks. A pilot biodistribution study was conducted to evaluate in vivo stability and tumor targeting of 177Lu-radiolabeled trastuzumab conjugate using nude mice bearing ZR-75-1 human breast cancer. 177Lu-3p-C-NETA-trastuzumab conjugate displayed low radioactivity level at blood (1.6%), low organ uptake (<2.2%), and high tumor-to-blood ratio (6.4) at 120 h. 3p-C-NETA possesses favorable in vitro and in vivo profiles and is an excellent bifunctional chelator that can be used for targeted RIT applications using 90Y and 177Lu and has potential to replace DOTA and DTPA analogues in current clinical use.

A new bifunctional ligand 3p-C-DEPA was synthesized and evaluated for use in targeted alpha radioimmunotherapy. 3p-C-DEPA was efficiently prepared via regiospecific ring opening of an aziridinium ion and conjugated with trastuzumab. The 3p-C-DEPA-trastuzumab conjugate was extremely rapid in binding 205/6Bi, and the corresponding 205/6Bi-3p-C-DEPA-trastuzumab complex was stable in human serum. Biodistribution studies were performed to evaluate in vivo stability and tumor targeting of 205/6Bi-3p-C-DEPA-trastuzumab conjugate in tumor bearing athymic mice. 205/6Bi-3p-C-DEPA-trastuzumab conjugate displayed excellent in vivo stability and targeting as evidenced by low organ uptake and high tumor uptake. The results of the in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that 3p-C-DEPA is a promising chelator for radioimmunotherapy of 212Bi and 213Bi.

A novel bifunctional ligand (3p-C-NETA) for antibody-targeted radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of β-emitting radioisotopes (90)Y and (177)Lu was efficiently synthesized via an unexpected regiospecific ring opening of an aziridinium ion. 3p-C-NETA instantly formed a very stable complex with (90)Y or (177)Lu. 3p-C-NETA is an excellent bifunctional ligand for RIT.

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.