Controlling the Redox Chemistry of Cobalt Radiopharmaceuticals

Abstract

The elementally matched 55Co (t1/2 = 17.53 h, Iβ+ = 77%)/58mCo (t1/2 = 9.10 h, IC= 100%) radioisotope pair is of interest for development of paired diagnostic/therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Due to the accessibility of the Co2+/3+ redox couple, the redox state can be readily modulated. Here, we show that macroscopic and radiochemical redox reactions can be closely monitored and controlled using spectroscopic and radiochemical methods. We employ model systems to inform how to selectively synthesize thermodynamically favored coordination complexes. In addition to exogenous oxidants, our data indicates that 55Co‐induced radiolysis of water efficiently and directly drives selective oxidation to the Co3+ species under no‐carrier added (n.c.a.) conditions. Our synthetic strategies subsequently stabilize the respective 55Co2+ or 55Co3+ species for targeted Co‐compounds’ imaging in a mouse tumor model.