Photoacoustic imaging provides high-resolution images at depths beyond the optical diffusion limit. To broaden its utility, there is need for molecular sensors capable of detecting environmental stimuli through alterations in photoacoustic signal. Photosynthetic organisms have evolved ingenious strategies to optimize light absorption through nanoscale ordered dye aggregation. Here, we use this concept to synthesize a stimuli-responsive nanoswitch with a large optical absorbance and sensing capabilities. Ordered dye aggregation between light-harvesting porphyrins was achieved through intercalation within thermoresponsive nanovesicles. This causes an absorbance red-shift of 74 nm and a 2.7-fold increase in absorptivity of the Qy-band, with concomitant changes in its photoacoustic spectrum. This spectral feature can be reversibly switched by exceeding a temperature threshold. Using this thermochromic property, we noninvasively determined a localized temperature change in vivo, relevant for monitoring thermal therapies of solid tumors. Similar strategies may be applied alongside photoacoustic imaging, to detect other stimuli such as pH and enzymatic activity.

Peptides can serve as versatile cancer-targeting ligands and have been used for clinically relevant applications such as cancer imaging and therapy. A current and long-standing focus within peptide research is the creation of structurally constrained peptides generated through cyclization. Cyclization is envisioned to enhance the selective binding, uptake, potency and stability of linear precursors. This review compares closely related linear and cyclic peptides in these respects. Peptide cyclization generally improves the selective binding and stability of linear precursors; however, not all cyclization strategies and constrained geometries enhance these properties to the same extent. In some instances, linear analogues actually have better cancer-targeting properties compared with their cyclic counterparts. Although cyclization does not necessarily improve the cancer-targeting properties of linear analogues, cyclic peptides may obtain properties that allow them to be used for additional applications. This review aims to convey the advantages and limitations of cyclic cancer-targeting peptides.

We demonstrate that porphyrins can be used as efficient cross-linkers to generate a new class of hydrogels with enabling optical properties. Tetracarboxylic acid porphyrins reacted with PEG diamines to form a condensation polyamide in a range of appropriate conditions, with respect to reaction time, diisopropylethylamine initiator concentration, porphyrin-to-PEG ratio, porphyrin concentration, and PEG size. The network structure of the hydrogel maintained a porphyrin spacing that prevented excessive fluorescence self-quenching despite high porphyrin density. The near-infrared properties readily enabled low background, noninvasive fluorescence monitoring of the implanted hydrogel in vivo, as well as its image-guided surgical removal in real time using a low-cost fluorescence camera prototype. Emission could be tuned by incorporating copper metalloporphyrins into the network. The approach of creating hydrogels using cross-linking porphyrin comonomers creates opportunities for new polymer designs with strong optical character.

Most animals store energy as long-chain triacylglycerols (lcTAGs). Trace amounts of acetylated triacylglycerols (acTAGs) have been reported in animals, but are not accumulated, likely because they have lower energy density than lcTAGs. Here we report that acTAGs comprise 36% of the neutral lipid pool of overwintering prepupae of the goldenrod gall fly, Eurosta solidaginis, while only 17% of the neutral lipid pool is made up of typical lcTAGs. These high concentrations of acTAGs, present only during winter, appear to be synthesized by E. solidaginis and are not found in other freezetolerant insects, nor in the plant host. The mixture of acTAGs found in E. solidaginis has a significantly lower melting point than equivalent lcTAGs, and thus remains liquid at temperatures at which E. solidaginis is frozen in the field, and depresses the melting point of aqueous solutions in a manner unusual for neutral lipids. We note that accumulation of acTAGs coincides with preparation for overwintering and the seasonal acquisition of freeze tolerance. This is the first observation of accumulation of acTAGs by an animal, and the first evidence of dynamic interconversion between acTAGs and lcTAGs during development and in response to stress. INTRODUCTIONLipids fulfill diverse biological functions including cell membrane structure, signalling and energy storage (Canavoso et al., 2001;Reue, 2011;Yen et al., 2008). Long-chain triacylglycerols (lcTAGs) are generally used as fuel stores by animals because of their high energy density, and are consequently the most abundant lipid class in animals (Williams et al., 2011;Yen et al., 2008). No other neutral lipid has been reported as a storage molecule in terrestrial animals.Instead of having three long-chain fatty esters (as in lcTAGs), acetylated triacylglycerols (acTAGs) have an acetyl group esterified at the 3-position of the glycerol backbone. This distinct structure results in the reduced viscosity and the significantly lower energy density of acTAGs compared with lcTAGs (Durrett et al., 2010). Trace amounts of acTAGs have been described in a broad range of organisms, including the antlers of Japanese deer (Cervus nippon) (Yang et al., 2004), the udders of domestic cows (Bos primigenius) (Limb et al., 1999) and the seeds of the burning bush plant (Euonymus alatus) (Durrett et al., 2010). acTAGs constitute a very small proportion of the total lipid pool in the two mammal species investigated [<0.1% by mass Limb et al., 1999;Yang et al., 2004)], but predominate (92% by moles) in E. alatus seed oils (Durrett et al., 2010). Euonymus alatus synthesises acTAGs via an unusual diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) by esterifying an acetyl group, rather than a third long-chain fatty acid, to diacylglycerol (DAG) (Durrett et al., 2010). Although trace acTAGs are present in a few animals, we are not aware of any clear hypotheses for a physiological role of acTAGs in biological systems. Here we report that the goldenrod gall fly, Eurosta solidaginis (Fitch 1855), accumulates significan...

After the identification of the high-affinity glutamate-ureido scaffold, the design of several potent 18 F- and 68 Ga-labeled tracers has allowed spectacular progress in imaging recurrent prostate cancer by targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). We evaluated a series of PSMA-targeting probes that are 18 F-labeled in a single step for PET imaging of prostate cancer. Methods: We prepared 8 trifluoroborate constructs for prostate cancer imaging, to study the influence of the linker and the trifluoroborate prosthetic on pharmacokinetics and image quality. After 1-step labeling by 19 F– 18 F isotopic exchange, the radiotracers were injected in mice bearing LNCaP xenografts, with or without blocking controls, to assess specific uptake. PET/CT images and biodistribution data were acquired at 1 h after injection and compared with 18 F-DCFPyL on the same mouse strain and tumor model. Results: All tracers exhibited nanomolar affinities, were labeled in good radiochemical yields at high molar activities, and exhibited high tumor uptake in LNCaP xenografts with clearance from nontarget organs. Most derivatives with a naphthylalanine linker showed significant gastrointestinal excretion. A radiotracer incorporating this linker with a dual trifluoroborate-glutamate labeling moiety showed high tumor uptake, low background activity, and no liver or gastrointestinal track accumulation. Conclusion: PSMA-targeting probes with trifluoroborate prosthetic groups represent promising candidates for prostate cancer imaging because of facile labeling while affording high tumor uptake values and contrast ratios that are similar to those obtained with 18 F-DCFPyL.

High kidney uptake is a common feature of peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals, leading to reduced detection sensitivity for lesions adjacent to kidneys and lower maximum tolerated therapeutic dose. In this study, we evaluated if the Met-Val-Lys (MVK) linker could be used to lower kidney uptake of 68Ga-labeled DOTA-conjugated peptides and peptidomimetics. A model compound, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AmBz-MVK(Ac)-OH (AmBz: aminomethylbenzoyl), and its derivative, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AmBz-MVK(HTK01166)-OH, coupled with the PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen)-targeting motif of the previously reported HTK01166 were synthesized and evaluated to determine if they could be recognized and cleaved by the renal brush border enzymes. Additionally, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, ex vivo biodistribution and in vivo stability studies were conducted in mice to evaluate their pharmacokinetics. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AmBz-MVK(Ac)-OH was effectively cleaved specifically by neutral endopeptidase (NEP) of renal brush border enzymes at the Met-Val amide bond, and the radio-metabolite [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AmBz-Met-OH was rapidly excreted via the renal pathway with minimal kidney retention. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AmBz-MVK(HTK01166)-OH retained its PSMA-targeting capability and was also cleaved by NEP, although less effectively when compared to [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AmBz-MVK(Ac)-OH. The kidney uptake of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AmBz-MVK(HTK01166)-OH was 30% less compared to that of [68Ga]Ga-HTK01166. Our data demonstrated that derivatives of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-AmBz-MVK-OH can be cleaved specifically by NEP, and therefore, MVK can be a promising cleavable linker for use to reduce kidney uptake of radiolabeled DOTA-conjugated peptides and peptidomimetics.

DOTA is commonly used for radiometal chelation in molecular imaging. Yet in the absence of a radiometal, DOTA is hypothesized to promote renal clearance of 18F-labeled peptide tracers. In light of an increasing interest in the use of F18 for PET, here the effect of DOTA is evaluated for the first time with an 18F-labeled tracer and is found to significantly improve the quality of images acquired through positron emission tomography (PET). We chose to image the peptide LLP2A that recognizes the transmembrane protein very-late antigen 4 (VLA-4) that is overexpressed by many cancers. Since it is known that [18F]­RBF3-PEG2-LLP2A derivatives gave low tumor uptake values and significant GI tract accumulation, this ligand thus represents an ideal means of testing the additive effects of a DOTA group on clearance while permitting a facile, user-friendly, one-step 18F-labeling. A newly designed RBF3-LLP2A bioconjugate with an appended DOTA moiety increased tumor uptake nearly 3-fold and reduced GI accumulation by more than 10-fold. The DOTA-AMBF3-PEG2-LLP2A was radiolabeled by isotope exchange and was purified by semiprep HPLC and C18 cartridge elution. Male C57BL/6J mice bearing B16–F10 melanoma tumors that overexpress the VLA-4 target were used to evaluate [18F]­DOTA-AMBF3-PEG2-LLP2A using a combination of static and dynamic PET scans, biodistribution studies, and blocking controls at 1 h post injection (p.i.). The precursor peptide was synthesized and 18F-labeled to provide formulations with mean (±SD) radiochemical purities of 95.9 ± 1.8%, in radiochemical yields of 4.8 ± 2.9% having molar activities of 131.7 ± 50.3 GBq/μmol. In vivo static PET images of [18F]­DOTA-AMBF3-PEG2-LLP2A provided clear tumor visualization, and biodistribution studies showed that tumor uptake was 9.46 ± 2.19% injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) with high tumor/muscle and tumor/blood contrast ratios of ∼8 and ∼10, respectively. Blocking confirmed the specificity of [18F]­DOTA-AMBF3-PEG2-LLP2A to VLA-4 in the tumor and the bone marrow. Dynamic PET showed clearance of [18F]­DOTA-AMBF3-PEG2-LLP2A mainly via the renal pathway, wherein accumulation in the intestines was reduced 10-fold compared to our previously investigated LLP2A’s, while spleen uptake was at levels similar to previously reported LLP2A-chelator radiotracers. [18F]­DOTA-AMBF3-PEG2-LLP2A represents a promising VLA-4 radiotracer and provides key evidence as to how a DOTA appendage can significantly reduce GI uptake in favor of urinary excretion. Implications for the development of dual-isotope theranostics that exploit the use fluorine-18 for imaging and DOTA to chelate therapeutic metal cations for therapy are discussed.

The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that is overexpressed in many solid cancers and is a promising target for cancer imaging and therapy. However, high pancreas uptake is a major concern in the application of reported GRPR-targeting radiopharmaceuticals, particularly for targeted radioligand therapy. To lower pancreas uptake, we explored Ga-complexed TacsBOMB2, TacsBOMB3, TacsBOMB4, TacsBOMB5, and TacsBOMB6 derived from a potent GRPR antagonist sequence, [Leu13ψThz14]Bombesin(7–14), and compared their potential for cancer imaging with [68Ga]Ga-RM2. The Ki(GRPR) values of Ga-TacsBOMB2, Ga-TacsBOMB3, Ga-TacsBOMB4, Ga-TacsBOMB5, Ga-TacsBOMB6, and Ga-RM2 were 7.08 ± 0.65, 4.29 ± 0.46, 458 ± 38.6, 6.09 ± 0.95, 5.12 ± 0.57, and 1.51 ± 0.24 nM, respectively. [68Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB2, [68Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB3, [68Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB5, [68Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB6, and [68Ga]Ga-RM2 clearly show PC-3 tumor xenografts in positron emission tomography (PET) images, while [68Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB5 shows the highest tumor uptake (15.7 ± 2.17 %ID/g) among them. Most importantly, the pancreas uptake values of [68Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB2 (2.81 ± 0.78 %ID/g), [68Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB3 (7.26 ± 1.00 %ID/g), [68Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB5 (1.98 ± 0.10 %ID/g), and [68Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB6 (6.50 ± 0.36 %ID/g) were much lower than the value of [68Ga]Ga-RM2 (41.9 ± 10.1 %ID/g). Among the tested [Leu13ψThz14]Bombesin(7–14) derivatives, [68Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB5 has the highest tumor uptake and tumor-to-background contrast ratios, which is promising for clinical translation to detect GRPR-expressing tumors. Due to the low pancreas uptake of its derivatives, [Leu13ψThz14]Bombesin(7–14) represents a promising pharmacophore for the design of GRPR-targeting radiopharmaceuticals, especially for targeted radioligand therapy application.