Tien Q. Pham

Synthesis and biological evaluation of substituted [18F]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and [18F]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines for the study of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor using positron emission tomography.

The fluoroethoxy and fluoropropoxy substituted 2-(6-chloro-2-phenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)- N, N-diethylacetamides 8 (PBR102) and 12 (PBR111) and 2-phenyl-5,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5- a]pyrimidin-3-yl)- N, N-diethylacetamides 15 (PBR099) and 18 (PBR146) were synthesized and found to have high in vitro affinity and selectivity for the peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) when compared with the central benzodiazepine receptors (CBRs). The corresponding radiolabeled compounds [ (18)F] 8 [ (18)F] 12, [ (18)F] 15, and [ (18)F] 18 were prepared from their p-toluenesulfonyl precursors in 50-85% radiochemical yield. In biodistribution studies in rats, the distribution of radioactivity of the [ (18)F]PBR compounds paralleled the known localization of PBRs. In the olfactory bulbs, where the uptake of radioactivity was higher than in the rest of the brain, PK11195 and Ro 5-4864 were able to significantly inhibit [ (18)F] 12, while little or no pharmacological action of these established PBR drugs were observed on the uptake of [ (18)F] 8, [ (18)F] 15, and [ (18)F] 18 compared to control animals. Hence, [ (18)F] 12 appeared to be the best candidate for evaluation as an imaging agent for PBR expression in neurodegenerative disorders.

Discovery of [18F]N-(2-(Diethylamino)ethyl)-6-fluoronicotinamide: A Melanoma Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Radiotracer with High Tumor to Body Contrast Ratio and Rapid Renal Clearance

The high melanoma uptake and rapid body clearance displayed by our series of [(123)I]iodonicotinamides prompted the development of [(18)F]N-(2-(diethylamino)ethyl)-6-fluoronicotinamide ([(18)F]2), a novel radiotracer for PET melanoma imaging. Significantly, unlike fluorobenzoates, [(18)F]fluorine incorporation on the nicotinamide ring is one step, facile, and high yielding. [(18)F]2 displayed high tumor uptake, rapid body clearance via predominantly renal excretion, and is currently being evaluated in preclinical studies for progression into clinical trials to assess the responsiveness of therapeutic agents.

Preparation and Biologic Evaluation of a Novel Radioiodinated Benzylpiperazine, 123I-MEL037, for Malignant Melanoma

Radiopharmaceuticals that can target the random metastatic dissemination of melanoma tumors may present opportunities for imaging and staging the disease as well as potential radiotherapeutic applications. A novel molecule, 2-(2-(4-(4-123I-iodobenzyl)piperazin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)isoindoline-1,3-dione (MEL037), was synthesized, labeled with 123I, and evaluated for application in melanoma tumor scintigraphy and radiotherapy. Methods: The tumor imaging potential of 123I-MEL037 was studied in vivo in C57BL/6J female mice bearing the B16F0 murine melanoma tumor and in BALB/c nude mice bearing the A375 human amelanotic melanoma tumor by biodistribution, competition studies, and SPECT. Results: 123I-MEL037 exhibited high and rapid uptake in the B16F0 melanoma tumor at 1 h (13 %ID/g [percentage injected dose per gram]), increasing with time to reach 25 %ID/g at 6 h. A significant uptake was also observed in the eyes (2 %ID, at 3–6 h after injection) of black mice. No uptake was observed in the tumor or in the eyes of nude mice bearing the A375 tumor. Because of high uptake and long retention in the tumor and rapid body clearance, the mean contrast ratios (MCR) of 123I-MEL037 were 30 and 60, at 24 and 48 h after injection, respectively. At 24 h after injection of mice bearing the B16 melanoma, SPECT indicated that the radioactivity was located predominately in the tumor followed by the eyes, whereas no specific localization of the radioactivity was noted in mice bearing the A375 human amelanotic tumor. In competition experiments, uptake of 123I-MEL037 in brain, lung, heart, and kidney—organs known to contain σ-receptors—was not significantly different in haloperidol-treated animals compared with control animals. Therefore, reduction of uptake in tumor and eyes of the pigmented mice bearing the B16F0 tumor suggested that the mechanism of tumor uptake was likely due to an interaction with melanin. Conclusion: These findings suggested that 123I-MEL037, which displays a rapid and very high tumor uptake, appeared to be a promising imaging agent for detection of most melanoma tumors with the potential for development as a therapeutic agent in melanoma tumor proliferation.

Ascertaining the Suitability of Aryl Sulfonyl Fluorides for [18F]Radiochemistry Applications: A Systematic Investigation using Microfluidics

Optimization of [(18)F]radiolabeling conditions and subsequent stability analysis in mobile phase, PBS buffer, and rat serum of 12 aryl sulfonyl chloride precursors with various substituents (electron-withdrawing groups, electron-donating groups, increased steric bulk, heterocyclic) were performed using an Advion NanoTek Microfluidic Synthesis System. A comparison of radiochemical yields and reaction times for a microfluidics device versus a conventional reaction vessel is reported. [(18)F]Radiolabeling of sulfonyl chlorides in the presence of competing nucleophiles, H-bond donors, and water was also assessed and demonstrated the versatility and potential utility of [(18)F]sulfonyl fluorides as synthons for indirect radiolabeling.

Optimization of nucleophilic 18F radiofluorinations using a microfluidic reaction approach

Microfluidic techniques are increasingly being used to synthesize positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals. Several reports demonstrate higher incorporation yields, with shorter reaction times and reduced amounts of reagents compared with traditional vessel-based techniques. Microfluidic techniques, therefore, have tremendous potential for allowing rapid and cost-effective optimization of new radiotracers. This protocol describes the implementation of a suitable microfluidic process to optimize classical 18F radiofluorination reactions by rationalizing the time and reagents used. Reaction optimization varies depending on the systems used, and it typically involves 5–10 experimental days of up to 4 h of sample collection and analysis. In particular, the protocol allows optimization of the key fluidic parameters in the first tier of experiments: reaction temperature, residence time and reagent ratio. Other parameters, such as solvent, activating agent and precursor concentration need to be stated before the experimental runs. Once the optimal set of parameters is found, repeatability and scalability are also tested in the second tier of experiments. This protocol allows the standardization of a microfluidic methodology that could be applied in any radiochemistry laboratory, in order to enable rapid and efficient radiosynthesis of new and existing [18F]-radiotracers. Here we show how this method can be applied to the radiofluorination optimization of [18F]-MEL050, a melanoma tumor imaging agent. This approach, if integrated into a good manufacturing practice (GMP) framework, could result in the reduction of materials and the time required to bring new radiotracers toward preclinical and clinical applications.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel radioiodinated nicotinamides for malignant melanoma

INTRODUCTION A series of iodonicotinamides based on the melanin-binding iodobenzamide compound N-2-diethylaminoethyl-4-iodobenzamide was prepared and evaluated for the potential imaging and staging of disseminated metastatic melanoma. METHODS [(123)I]Iodonicotinamides were prepared by iododestannylation reactions using no-carrier-added iodine-123 and evaluated in vivo by biodistribution and competition studies and by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging in black and albino nude mice bearing B16F0 murine melanotic and A375 human amelanotic melanoma tumours, respectively. RESULTS The iodonicotinamides displayed low-affinity binding for sigma(1)-sigma(2) receptors (K(i)>300 nM). In biodistribution studies in mice, N-(2-(diethylamino)ethyl)-5-[(123)I]iodonicotinamide ([(123)I]1) exhibited the fastest and highest uptake of the nicotinamide series in the B16F0 tumour at 1 h ( approximately 8% ID/g), decreasing slowly over time. No uptake was observed in the A375 tumour. Clearance from the animals by urinary excretion was more rapid for N-alkyl-nicotinamides than for piperazinyl derivatives. At 1 h postinjection, the urinary excretion was 66% ID for [(123)I]1, while the gastrointestinal tract amounted to 17% ID. Haloperidol was unable to reduce the uptake of [(123)I]1 in pigmented mice, indicating that this uptake was likely due to an interaction with melanin. SPECT imaging of [(123)I]1 in black mice bearing the B16F0 melanoma indicated that the radioactivity was predominately located in the tumour and eyes. No specific localisation was observed in nude mice bearing A375 amelanotic tumours. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that [(123)I]1, which displays high tumour uptake with rapid clearance from the body, could be a promising imaging agent for the detection of melanotic tumours.

Automated radiosynthesis of [18F]PBR111 and [18F]PBR102 using the Tracerlab FXFN and Tracerlab MXFDG module for imaging the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor with PET.

[(18)F]PBR111 and [(18)F]PBR102 are selective radioligands for imaging of the Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor (PBR). We have developed a fully automated method for the radiosynthesis of [(18)F]PBR111 and [(18)F]PBR102 in the Tracerlab FX(FN) (30±2% radiochemical yield non-decay-corrected for both tracers) and Tracerlab MX(FDG) (25±2% radiochemical yield non-decay-corrected for both tracers) from the corresponding p-toluenesulfonyl precursors. For all tracers, radiochemical purity was >99% and specific activity was >150GBq/μmol after less than 60min of preparation time.

A new class of fluorinated 5-pyrrolidinylsulfonyl isatin caspase inhibitors for PET imaging of apoptosis

Thirteen compounds in a new class of fluorinated 5-pyrrolidinylsulfonyl isatin derivatives were synthesised that have potent and selective inhibitory activity against effector caspases-3 and -7. With in vivo animal PET imaging studies of cerebral ischemia being planned, N-benzylation with selected para-substituted benzylic halides allowed systematic variation of lipophilicity (logP 1.94–3.31) without decreasing inhibition potency (IC50). From this series the p-methoxybenzyl analogue was selected for initial ‘proof-of-concept’ [18F]-fluoride radiolabelling which proceeded in good yield and purity with no need for a protection/deprotection strategy.

Synthesis and Radiosynthesis of a Novel PET Fluorobenzyl Piperazine for Melanoma Tumour Imaging; [18F]MEL054

2-{2-[4-(4-[18F]-Fluorobenzyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxoethyl}isoindolin-1-one ([18F]MEL054), is a new potent indolinone-based melanin binder designed to target melanotic tumours. [18F]MEL054 was prepared by an automated two-step radiosynthesis, comprising of the preparation of 4-[18F]fluorobenzaldehyde from 4-formyl-N,N,N-trimethylanilinium triflate, followed by reductive alkylation with 2-(2-oxo-2-piperazin-1-ylethyl)isoindolin-1-one. 4-[18F]Fluorobenzaldehyde was prepared on a GE TRACERlab FXFN module in 68 ± 8 % radiochemical yield (RCY, non-decay corrected), purified by a Sep-Pak Plus C18 cartridge and eluted into the reactor of an in-house modified Nuclear Interface [18F]FDG synthesis module for the subsequent reductive alkylation reaction. HPLC purification produced [18F]MEL054 in a collected RCY of 34 ± 9 % (non-decay corrected), the total preparation time (including Sep-Pak Plus C18 and HPLC purification) did not exceed 105 min. The radiochemical purity of [18F]MEL054 was greater than 99 % with a specific radioactivity of 71–119 GBq μmol–1 and [18F]MEL054 remained stable in saline solution (>98 %) after 3 h.

Synthesis and in Vivo Evaluation of [123I]Melanin-Targeted Agents

This study reports the synthesis, [(123)I]radiolabeling, and biological profile of a new series of iodinated compounds for potential translation to the corresponding [(131)I]radiolabeled compounds for radionuclide therapy of melanoma. Radiolabeling was achieved via standard electrophilic iododestannylation in 60-90% radiochemical yield. Preliminary SPECT imaging demonstrated high and distinct tumor uptake of all compounds, as well as high tumor-to-background ratios compared to the literature compound [(123)I]4 (ICF01012). The most favorable compounds ([(123)I]20, [(123)I]23, [(123)I]41, and [(123)I]53) were selected for further biological investigation. Biodistribution studies indicated that all four compounds bound to melanin containing tissue with low in vivo deiodination; [(123)I]20 and [(123)I]53 in particular displayed high and prolonged tumor uptake (13% ID/g at 48 h). [(123)I]53 had the most favorable overall profile of the cumulative uptake over time of radiosensitive organs. Metabolite analysis of the four radiotracers found [(123)I]41 and [(123)I]53 to be the most favorable, displaying high and prolonged amounts of intact tracer in melanin containing tissues, suggesting melanin specific binding. Results herein suggest that compound [(123)I]53 displays favorable in vivo pharmacokinetics and stability and hence is an ideal candidate to proceed with further preclinical [(131)I] therapeutic evaluation.