Dinesh Shetty

Synthesis and Characterization of Nitroimidazole Derivatives for 68Ga-Labeling and Testing in Tumor Xenografted Mice

Radiolabeled nitroimidazole (NI) derivatives have been used for imaging hypoxic tissues. We synthesized NI derivatives conjugated with bifunctional chelating agents such as 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (NOTA) and isothiocyanatobenzyl-NOTA (SCN-NOTA) via ethyleneamine bridge by formation of amide and thiourea bond, respectively. We proved that amide oxygen of Ga-NOTA-NI contributes to the formation of metal complex by X-ray crystallography. We labeled them with (68)Ga and found that both (68)Ga-NOTA-NI and (68)Ga- SCN-NOTA-NI were labeled in high efficiency (>96%) and were stable at room temperature in the prepared medium and at 37 degrees C in human serum. In vitro cell uptake experiments using CHO and CT-26 cell lines showed significantly increased uptakes of both of the agents in hypoxic condition. Biodistribution study in CT-26 xenografted mice showed increasing tumor to muscle ratios. (68)Ga-NOTA-NI showed lower intestine uptake than (68)Ga-NOTA-SCN-NI due to hydrophilicity. Also, (68)Ga-NOTA-NI showed higher tumor uptake than (68)Ga-NOTA-SCN-NI in an animal PET study. In conclusion, we successfully developed (68)Ga labeled NI derivatives for hypoxic tissue imaging.

Self-Assembly of Nanostructured Materials through Irreversible Covalent Bond Formation

Over the past decades, numerous efforts have been devoted to synthesizing nanostructured materials with specific morphology because their size and shape play an important role in determining their functions. Self-assembly using weak and reversible interactions or bonds has provided synthetic routes toward various nanostructures because it allows a self-checking and self-error-correcting process under thermodynamic control. By contrast, the use of irreversible covalent bonds, despite the potential to generate more robust structures, has been disfavored in the synthesis of well-defined nanomaterials largely due to the lack of such self-error-correcting mechanisms. To date, the use of irreversible bonds is largely limited to covalent fixation of preorganized building blocks on a template, which, though capable of producing shape-persistent and robust nanostructured materials, often requires a laborious and time-consuming multistep processes. Constructing well-defined nanostructures by self-assembly using irreversible covalent bonds without help of templates or preorganization of components remains a challenge. This Account describes our recent discoveries and progress in self-assembly of nanostructured materials through strong, practically irreversible covalent bond formation and their applications in various areas including drug delivery, anticancer therapy, and heterogeneous catalysis. The key to the success of this approach is the use of rationally designed building blocks possessing multiple in-plane reactive groups at the periphery. These blocks can then successfully grow into flat oligomeric patches through irreversible covalent bond formation without the aid of preorganization or templates. Further growth of the patches with or without curvature generation drives the system to the formation of polymer nanocapsules, two-dimensional (2D) polymer films, and toroidal nanotubular microrings. Remarkably, the final morphology can be specified by a few simple parameters: the reaction medium, bending rigidity of the system, and orientation of the reactive groups. Theoretical studies support the spontaneous formation of such nanostructured materials in terms of energetics and successfully predict or explain their size distributions. Although the lack of self-error-correcting mechanisms results in defect sites in these nanostructures, the high efficiency and relative simplicity of our novel approach demonstrates the potential power of using irreversible covalent bonds to generate a diverse range of shape-persistent and robust nanostructures that is likely to enrich the repertoire of self-assembled nanomaterials.

Synthesis of 68Ga-labeled DOTA-nitroimidazole derivatives and their feasibilities as hypoxia imaging PET tracers.

The imaging of hypoxia is important for therapeutic decision making in various diseases. (68)Ga is an important radionuclide for positron emission tomography (PET), and its usage is increasing, due to the development of the (68)Ge/(68)Ga-generator. In the present study, the authors synthesized two nitroimidazole derivatives by conjugating nitroimidazole and 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) via an amide bond (4) and a thiourea bond (5). Both derivatives were labeled with (68)Ga with high labeling efficiency and were stable after labeling. The low partition coefficients (logP) of (68)Ga-4 (-4.6) and (68)Ga-5 (-4.5) demonstrated the hydrophilic natures of the derivatives, and both showed higher uptake in cancer cell lines cultured under hypoxic condition than under normoxic condition. However, (68)Ga-5 showed higher liver uptake than (68)Ga-4 in a biodistribution study due to higher lipophilicity. In an animal PET study, (68)Ga-4 showed higher standard uptake values (SUV) in tumors than (68)Ga-5 in mice xenografted with CT-26 mouse colon cancer cells.

High Affinity Host-Guest FRET Pair for Single-Vesicle Content-Mixing Assay: Observation of Flickering Fusion Events.

Fluorescence-based single-vesicle fusion assays provide a powerful method for studying mechanisms underlying complex biological processes of SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor)-mediated vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release. A crucial element of these assays is the ability of the fluorescent probe(s) to reliably detect key intermediate events of fusion pore opening and content release/mixing. Here, we report a new, reliable, and efficient single-vesicle content-mixing assay using a high affinity, fluorophore tagged host-guest pair, cucurbit[7]uril-Cy3 and adamantane-Cy5 as a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) pair. The power of these probes is demonstrated by the first successful observation of flickering dynamics of the fusion pore by in vitro assay using neuronal SNARE-reconstituted vesicles.

(68)Ga-labeled radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography.

Abstract68Ga is a promising emerging radionuclide for positron emission tomography (PET). It is produced using a 68Ge/68Ga-generator, and thus, would enable the cyclotron-independent distribution of PET. However, new 68Ga-labeled radiopharmaceuticals that can replace 18F-labeled agents like [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) are needed. Most of the 68Ga-labeled derivatives currently used are peptide agents, but the developments of other agents, such as amino acid derivatives, nitroimidazole derivatives, and glycosylated human serum albumin, are being actively pursued in many laboratories. Thus, appearance of new 68Ga-labeled radiopharmaceuticals with high impact are expected in the near future. Here, we present an overview of 68Ga-labeled agents in terms of their clinical significances and relevances to the management of certain tumors, and pertinent pre-clinical developments.

Synthesis and evaluation of macrocyclic amino acid derivatives for tumor imaging by gallium-68 positron emission tomography.

(68)Ga PET imaging in clinical oncology represents a notable development because the availability of (68)Ga is not dependent on a cyclotron. Furthermore, labeled amino acid derivatives have been proven to be useful for the imaging many tumor types. In the present study, we synthesized β-aminoalanine, γ-aminohomoalanine, and lysine conjugates of macrocyclic bifunctional chelating agents, such as, NOTA (1a-c) and DOTA (2a-c). The compounds produced were found to be potential useful as (68)Ga-PET imaging agents. In particular, they showed high tumor uptakes in vitro and in vivo, and had high labeling yields and excellent stabilities. The co-ordination chemistry of NOTA-monoamide compound 1a was studied by multinuclear NMR. In vitro studies showed that the synthesized compounds were taken up by cancer cells more than controls ((68)Ga-NOTA and (68)Ga-DOTA). Furthermore, in vivo studies showed that they have high tumor to muscle and tumor to blood ratios, and small-animal PET imaging revealed high tumor uptakes as compared with other organs, and high bladder activities, indicating rapid renal excretion. These results might motivate the use of (68)Ga amino acid PET for tumor diagnosis.

Syntheses of 2-Nitroimidazole Derivatives Conjugated with 1,4,7-Triazacyclononane-N,N′-Diacetic Acid Labeled with F-18 Using an Aluminum Complex Method for Hypoxia Imaging

Hypoxia imaging is important for diagnosis of ischemic diseases, and thus various (18)F-labeled radiopharmaceuticals have been developed. However, (18)F-labeling requires multistep procedures including azeotropic distillation, which is complicated and difficult to automate. Recently, (18)F-labeling method using Al-F complex in aqueous solution was devised that offered a straightforward (18)F-labeling procedure. We synthesized nitroimidazole derivatives conjugated with 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4-diacetic acid (NODA) that can be labeled with (18)F using Al-F complex and examined their radiochemistries, in vitro and in vivo biological properties, and animal PET imaging characteristics. We found that the synthesized derivatives have excellent (18)F-labeling efficiencies, high stabilities, specific uptakes in cultured hypoxic tumor cells, and high tumor to nontumor ratios in xenografted mice. Furthermore, the derivatives were labeled with (18)F in a straightforward manner within 15 min at high labeling efficiencies and radiochemical purities. In conclusion, (18)F-labeled NODA-nitroimidazole conjugates were developed and proved to be promising hypoxia PET agents.

Synthesis of novel 68Ga-labeled amino acid derivatives for positron emission tomography of cancer cells

OBJECTIVESnWe developed amino acid derivatives of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,7-diacetic acid (DO2A) and 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,-triacetic acid (DO3A) that can be labeled with (68)Ga, and we investigated their basic biological properties.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnAlanine derivatives of DO2A and DO3A were synthesized by regiospecific nucleophilic attack of DO2tBu and DO3tBu on the β-position of Boc-l-serine-β-lactone, followed by acid hydrolysis. Also, homoalanine derivatives were synthesized by reacting with the protected bromo derivative of homoalanine, which was synthesized from N-Cbz-l-homoserine lactone. Further catalytic reduction and acid cleavage of protected groups resulted in the required products. All derivatives were labeled with (68)Ga. Cell uptake assays were carried out in Hep3B (human hepatoma) and U87MG (human glioma) cell lines at 37°C. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies were performed using balb/c mice xenografted with CT-26 (mouse colon cancer).nnnRESULTSnAll compounds were labeled with >97% efficiency. According to in vitro studies, the labeled amino acid derivatives showed significantly greater uptakes than the control ((68)Ga 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) in cancer cells. Small animal PET images for labeled compounds showed high tumor uptake, as well as kidney and bladder uptakes, at 30 min postinjection. (68)Ga-DO3A-homoalanine showed the highest standardized uptake value ratio (3.9 ± 0.3), followed by (68)Ga-DO2A-alanine (3.1 ± 0.2), (68)Ga-DO3A-alanine (2.8 ± 0.2) and (68)Ga-DO2A-homoalanine (2.3 ± 0.2).nnnCONCLUSIONnThese derivatives were found to have high labeling efficiencies, high stabilities, high tumor cell uptakes, high tumor/nontumor xenograft uptakes and low nonspecific uptake in normal organs, except for the kidneys. However, the uptake mechanism of these derivatives remains unclear, and uptake via specific amino acid transporters needs to be demonstrated.

A Multifunctional Subphthalocyanine Nanosphere for Targeting, Labeling, and Killing of Antibiotic‐Resistant Bacteria

Developing a material that can combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a major global health threat, is an urgent requirement. To tackle this challenge, we synthesized a multifunctional subphthalocyanine (SubPc) polymer nanosphere that has the ability to target, label, and photoinactivate antibiotic-resistant bacteria in a single treatment with more than 99u2009% efficiency, even with a dose as low as 4.2u2005Ju2009cm(-2) and a loading concentration of 10u2005nM. The positively charged nanosphere shell composed of covalently linked SubPc units can increase the local concentration of photosensitizers at therapeutic sites. The nanosphere shows superior performance compared to corresponding monomers presumably because of their enhanced water dispersibility, higher efficiency of singlet-oxygen generation, and phototoxicity. In addition, this material is useful in fluorescence labeling of living cells and shows promise in photoacoustic imaging of bacteria inu2005vivo.

Development of a bifunctional chelating agent containing isothiocyanate residue for one step F-18 labeling of peptides and application for RGD labeling.

We report herein a novel isothiocyanate active ligand for fluorine-18 labeling prepared by four step synthesis. It can be conjugated to a target molecule containing an amino functional group under weak basic conditions by way of thiourea bond formation. We explored the application of synthesized ligand by conjugating to well known α(v)β(3) integrin targeting peptide, c(RGDyK). The conjugated peptide showed good radiochemical yield and efficiency with an excellent radiochemical purity (97.1 ± 1.2%) in a short reaction time (10 min). Labeled peptide showed excellent in vitro and in vivo stability (>95%). α(v)β(3) integrin specific tumor uptake was observed both in biodistribution and small animal microPET studies on α(v)β(3)-positive U87MG (human glioma cells) xenograft bearing mice. In general, successful application of synthesized ligand for labeling of RGD peptide could facilitate the possibility of using this ligand for labeling peptides containing an amino functional group.