α-deuterated carboxylic acids have been synthesized from the corresponding malonic acids via hydrogen/deuterium exchange and decarboxylation in presence of D2O. The method is general, mild and efficient and does not require organic solvents or other additives. Yields range between 83% and 94% and purification was not necessary. Starting materials were easy accessible and the α-deuterated carboxylic acids may easily be transformed to other labeled compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes, esters, and amides. Characterization with NMR confirmed purity and isotopic purity.

A radiochemical synthesis of [18F]DK222, a peptide binder of programmed death ligand 1 protein, suitable for human PET studies is described, and results from validation productions are presented. The high specific activity radiotracer product is prepared as a sterile, apyrogenic solution that conforms to current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements. In addition, the production is extended to use a commercial synthesizer platform (General Electric FASTlab 2).

The radiotracer 1-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tryptophan (L-[18F]FETrp or [18F]FETrp) is a substrate of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, the initial and key enzyme of the kynurenine pathway associated with tumoral immune resistance. In preclinical positron emission tomography studies, [18F]FETrp is highly accumulated in a wide range of primary and metastatic cancers, such as lung cancer, prostate cancer, and gliomas. However, the clinical translation of this radiotracer into the first-in-human trial has not been reported, partially due to its racemization during radiofluorination which renders the purification of the final product challenging. However, efficient purification is essential for human studies in order to assure radiochemical and enantiomeric purity. In this work, we report a fully automated radiosynthesis of [18F]FETrp on a Synthra RNPlus research module, including a one-pot two steps radiosynthesis, dual independent chiral and reverse-phase semipreparative high-performance liquid chromatography purifications, and solid-phase extraction-assisted formulation. The presented approach has led to its Investigational New Drug application and approval that allows the testing of this tracer in humans.

This paper describes the deuterium-labelling of alkylnitroaromatics by base-catalysed exchange with deuterium oxide. As the alkyl protons alpha to the aromatic ring are the most acidic sites in the molecule, regioselective hydrogen isotope exchange at this benzylic location leads to a regiospecifically deuterated product. The exchange labelling takes place in good yields and with high atom% abundance in the presence of an appropriate nitrogen base. Alkylated 2,4-dinitrobenzenes deuterate at room temperature under catalysis by triethylamine, whilst alkylated 2-nitro- or 4-nitrobenzenes and related mono-nitroaromatics require higher temperatures and catalysis by 1,5-diazobicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN). The labelling reactions require an inert gas atmosphere, but otherwise are simple and high yielding with no obvious byproducts. Those compounds in which the benzylic protons are in an ortho-orientation with respect to the nitro group label somewhat more slowly than the analogues where there is a para relationship. In addition, higher alkyl homologues undergo benzylic deuteration at slower rates than methyl.

Positron emission tomography (PET) using O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine ([18F]FET) has shown great success in differentiating tumor recurrence from necrosis. In this study, we are reporting the experience of synthesis [18F]FET by varying the concentration of TET precursor in different chemistry modules. TET precursor (2–10 mg) was used for the synthesis of [18F]FET in an automated (MX Tracerlab) module (n = 6) and semiautomated (FX2N Tracerlab) module (n = 19). The quality control was performed for all the preparations. For human imaging, 220 ± 50 MBq of [18F]FET was briefly injected into the patient to acquire PET-MR images. The radiochemical purity was greater than 95% for the final product in both modules. The decay corrected average yield was 10.7 ± 4.7% (10 mg, n = 3) and 8.2 ± 2.6% (2 mg, n = 3) with automated chemistry module and 36.7 ± 7.3% (8–10 mg, n = 12), 26.4 ± 3.1% (5–7 mg, n = 4), and 35.1 ± 3.8% (2–4 mg, n = 3) with semiautomated chemistry modules. The PET imaging showed uptake at the lesion site (SUVmax = 7.5 ± 2.6) and concordance with the MR image. The [18F]FET was produced with a higher radiochemical yield with 2.0 mg of the precursor with substantial yield and is suitable for brain tumor imaging.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) are promising treatments for unresectable liver tumours. Some recent studies suggested that combining TACE and TARE in one treatment course might improve treatment efficacy through synergistic cytotoxicity effects. Nonetheless, current formulations do not facilitate a combination of chemo- and radio-embolic agents in one delivery system. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesise a hybrid biodegradable microsphere loaded with both radioactive agent, samarium-153 (153Sm) and chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin (Dox) for potential radio-chemoembolization of advanced liver tumours. 152Sm and Dox-loaded polyhydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) microspheres were prepared using water-in-oil-in-water solvent evaporation method. The microspheres were then sent for neutron activation in a neutron flux of 2 × 1012 n/cm2/s. The physicochemical properties, radioactivity, radionuclide purity, 153Sm retention efficiency, and Dox release profile of the Dox-153Sm-PHBV microspheres were analysed. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity of the formulation was tested using MTT assay on HepG2 cell line at 24 and 72 h. The mean diameter of the Dox-153Sm-PHBV microspheres was 30.08 ± 2.79 μm. The specific radioactivity was 8.68 ± 0.17 GBq/g, or 177.69 Bq per microsphere. The 153Sm retention efficiency was more than 99%, tested in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and human blood plasma over 26 days. The cumulative release of Dox from the microspheres after 41 days was 65.21 ± 1.96% and 29.96 ± 0.03% in PBS solution of pH 7.4 and pH 5.5, respectively. The Dox-153Sm-PHBV microspheres achieved a greater in vitro cytotoxicity effect on HepG2 cells (85.73 ± 3.63%) than 153Sm-PHBV (70.03 ± 5.61%) and Dox-PHBV (74.06 ± 0.78%) microspheres at 300 μg/mL at 72 h. In conclusion, a novel biodegradable microspheres formulation loaded with chemotherapeutic drug (Dox) and radioactive agent (153Sm) was successfully developed in this study. The formulation fulfilled all the desired physicochemical properties of a chemo-radioembolic agent and achieved better in vitro cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the biosafety, radiation dosimetry, and synergetic anticancer properties of the formulation.

Since first becoming commercially available in 2018, the PET radiopharmaceutical [18F]PSMA-1007 has been used widely for the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer. A pharmacopoeia monograph first became available in 2021, prescribing a radiochemical purity specification of >91%, based on analytical results from both TLC (for [18F]fluoride impurity alone) and HPLC (for all other 18F-impurities). Though this monograph has provided clarity for the quality control testing of [18F]PSMA-1007, it prescribes a HPLC method using phosphate buffer mobile phase that may present a risk of precipitation of phosphate salts in the HPLC system. The method also requires specialised hardware not immediately available to all laboratories. This work describes the development of a simple, rapid reversed-phase HPLC method utilising 0.1 M ammonium formate mobile phase for the accurate assessment of both [18F]fluoride impurity and overall radiochemical purity in a single test. This method is especially useful for assessment of product stability over time. A more accurate TLC method for [18F]fluoride impurity is also described.

Biomimetic oxidation using synthetic iron-porphyrin (F20TPPFeCl) as a catalyst eliminated a xylene moiety of the fungicide mandestrobin, uniformly labeled with carbon-14 at the benzyl ring, to produce the corresponding radiolabeled metabolite 1. This reaction mechanism was investigated by identifying chemical structures of intermediate 5 and p-xyloquinone derivatives 6 and 7, as by-products. Optimization of reaction factors based on the mechanism improved the yield of 1 from mandestrobin up to 87%. Finally, various carbon-14 labeled metabolites of mandestrobin were prepared from 1.

Radioactive iodine isotopes play a pivotal role in radiopharmaceuticals. Large-scale production of multi-patient dose of radioiodinated nuclear medicines requires high concentration of radioiodine. We demonstrate that tetrabutylammonium chloride and methyltrioctylamonium chloride are effective phase transfer reagents to concentrate iodide-124, iodide-125 and iodide-131 from the corresponding commercial water solutions. The resulting concentrated radioiodide, in the presence of either phase transfer reagent, does not hamper the chemical reactivity of aqueous radioiodide in the copper (II)-mediated one-pot three-component click chemistry to produce radioiodinated iodotriazoles.

Selective deuterium installation into small molecules is becoming increasingly desirable not only for the elucidation of mechanistic pathways and studying biological processes but also because of deuterium's ability to favorably adjust the pharmacokinetic parameters of bioactive molecules. Fused bicyclic moieties, especially those containing heteroatoms, are prevalent in drug discovery and pharmaceuticals. Herein, we report a copper-catalyzed transfer hydrodeuteration of cyclic and heterocyclic alkenes, which enables the synthesis of chromans, quinolinones, and tetrahydronaphthalenes that are precisely deuterated at the benzylic position. We also demonstrate the ability to place one deuterium atom at the homobenzylic site of these scaffolds with high regioselectivity by swapping transfer reagents for their isotopic analogs. Furthermore, examples of chemoselective transfer hydrogenation and transfer deuteration are disclosed, allowing for the simultaneous incorporation of two vicinal hydrogen or deuterium atoms into a double bond.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and insulinoma are mainly affected by the status of pancreatic β-cell mass (BCM). Development of imaging agents for BCM allows to study pancreatic β cells and the relationship between β cells and DM or insulinoma. In this study, we investigated the density of dopamine D1 receptor on the β cells and measured BCM by statistical image processing. The pancreatic uptakes of [125I]I-R-(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-1-(3′-iodopheny1)-3-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine ([125I]I-R-(+)-TISCH), dopamine D1 receptor tracer, in normal and diabetic rats displayed significant differences at 30 min (1.11 ± 0.08% ID/g vs. 0.63 ± 0.09% ID/g, p < 0.0001). In the presence of SCH23390, the pancreatic uptake of [125I]I-R-(+)-TISCH at 30 min in normal rats was lower (1.01 ± 0.04% ID/g, p < 0.05). Although the blocking was not complete, [125I]I-R-(+)-TISCH showed specific binding signals to the pancreas. Furthermore, the uptakes of [125I]I-R-(+)-TISCH in INS-1 cells were reduced in the presence of SCH23390 at different concentrations. [125I]I-R-(+)-TISCH displayed a respectable uptake in insulinoma. Overall, [125I]I-R-(+)-TISCH provided specific binding signals to pancreatic β cells. Although the specific signal may not be sufficient for imaging in vivo, the dopamine D1 receptor can still be considered as a potential target for studying BCM. Further investigation will be required to optimize the ligand.

No abstract is available for this article.

No abstract is available for this article.

No abstract is available for this article.

No abstract is available for this article.

Tritium-labeled compounds are generally less stable than their non-labeled counterparts. This requires storage at low temperatures, a constant workflow of quality checks, and subsequent re-purifications. As the amount of tritium-labeled material is typically purified in the μg range, repeated injections on analytical-scale ultra high-performance liquid chromatography systems can provide high-resolution re-purification results. Yet, degradants can be undesirably included in the compound isolation because the amount of decomposition can vary dramatically depending on the structure. We report a case of a sensitive molecule that could not be isolated in pure form even though the chromatographic separation was successful. In this case, the use of a small-scale two-dimensional preparative liquid chromatography approach with a direct transfer interface to a second (trapping) column resulted in a highly pure compound (>98% radiochemical purity). This approach combines high chromatographic resolution, accurate control over the re-purification process, minimal sample manipulation, and higher overall safety for the handling of radioactive samples.

The PET tracer [18F]F-AraG, an arabinosyl guanine analog, has shown promise for visualizing activated T cells in multiple diseases. Herein, a practitioner's protocol is described, in which the PET tracer is prepared using minimal equipment and manual actions, making it widely accessible for preclinical applications.

In recent years, clinical imaging with 89Zr-based radiopharmaceuticals has been gaining significant importance in nuclear medicine. This article provides the results of a comparative study of methods for obtaining 89Zr solutions using ZR, Chelex-100, and TBP resins in the form of [89Zr]Zr-oxalate, [89Zr]Zr-chloride, and [89Zr]Zr-citrate in terms of purification and labeling efficiency. All evaluated methods allowed us to obtain 89Zr with high yield (>90% in 1 ml). The chemical form of 89Zr has a significant influence on the radiolabeling efficiency of the deferoxamine (DFO) chelator and its derivatives. Compared with [89Zr]Zr-oxalate, the application of [89Zr]Zr-chloride and [89Zr]Zr-citrate solutions leads to a higher efficacy of [89Zr]Zr-DFO complex formation. It should be noted that the sequence of mixing of the reagents during the radiolabeling reaction and the residual concentration of oxalic acid appeared to be crucial in the case of [89Zr]Zr-chloride. According to the experimental data, radiolabeling of DFO and its derivatives is preferable to use more stable chemical forms of 89Zr, such as [89Zr]Zr-citrate. The concept will be applied in the further studies involving antibody-based bioconjugates.

Pretargeting imaging has gained a lot of prominence, due to its excellent bioorthogonality and improved imaging contrast compared to conventional imaging. A new iodo tetrazine (Tz) derivative has been synthesized and further developed into the corresponding iodine-125 (125I) analog (12), via the trimethylstannane precursor. Radiolabeling with either N-chlorosuccinimide or chloramine-T, in either MeCN or MeOH proceeded with a radiochemical conversion (RCC) of >80%. Subsequent deprotection only proved successful, among the tested conditions, when the radiolabeled Tz was stirred in 6-M HCl(aq.) at 60°C for 2.5 h. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first H-tetrazine labeled with iodine. In vivo investigations on the pretargeting ability of 12 are currently under way.

[3H]NAAG, N-acetyl-l-aspartyl-l-glutamic acid, has been widely used as a substrate in glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) reactions, either to determine the inhibitory constants at 50% inhibition (IC50) of novel compounds or to measure GCPII activities in different tissues harvested from various disease models. The importance of [3H]NAAG, combined with its current commercial unavailability, prompted the development of a reliable eight-step synthetic procedure towards [3H2]NAAG starting from commercially available pyroglutamate. Pure [3H]NAAG of high molar activity (49.8 Ci/mmol) and desired stereochemistry was isolated in high radiochemical yield (67 mCi) and radiochemical purity (>99%). The identity was confirmed by mass spectrometry and co-injection with unlabeled reference.