BackgroundThe synthesis of [11C]L-deprenyl-D2 for imaging of astrocytosis with positron emission tomography (PET) in neurodegenerative diseases has been previously reported. [11C]L-deprenyl-D2 radiosynthesis requires a precursor, L-nordeprenyl-D2, which has been previously synthesized from L-amphetamine as starting material with low overall yields. Here, we present an efficient synthesis of L-nordeprenyl-D2 organic precursor as free base and automated radiosynthesis of [11C]L-deprenyl-D2 for PET imaging of astrocytosis. The L-nordeprenyl-D2 precursor was synthesized from the easily commercial available and cheap reagent L-phenylalanine in five steps. Next, N-alkylation of L-nordeprenyl-D2 free base with [11C]MeOTf was optimized using the automated commercial platform GE TRACERlab® FX C Pro.ResultsA simple and efficient synthesis of L-nordeprenyl-D2 precursor of [11C]L-deprenyl-D2 as free base has been developed in five synthetic steps with an overall yield of 33%. The precursor as free base has been stable for 9 months stored at low temperature (−20 °C). The labelled product was obtained with 44 ± 13% (n = 12) (end of synthesis, decay corrected) radiochemical yield from [11C]MeI after 35 min synthesis time. The radiochemical purity was over 99% in all cases and specific activity was (170 ± 116) GBq/μmol.ConclusionsA high-yield synthesis of [11C]L-deprenyl-D2 has been achieved with high purity and specific activity. L-nordeprenyl-D2 precursor as free amine was applicable for automated production in a commercial synthesis module for preclinical and clinical application.
In vivo receptor targeting with radiolabelled peptide‐based probes is an attractive approach for the development of novel radiotracers for molecular imaging. This work presents the development and characterization of two novel neuropeptide Y analogues labelled with a positron emitter 68Ga, for potential use in breast cancer imaging. Both analogues share the same amino acid sequence and were derivatized with NOTA through either a lysine linker (L1) or an acetylated lysine (L2). In both cases, a single product with radiochemical purity higher than 95% was obtained. The two complexes were hydrophilic, showed remarkable in vitro stability, good cellular uptake, binding affinity in the nanomolar range and high cellular internalization rate. Biodistribution studies revealed low blood uptake and elimination through the urinary tract. The addition of an acetyl group in the spacer increased the lipophilicity of C2 and modified the reactivity of the ε‐amino group of the lysine which resulted in lower protein binding and lower percentage of injected dose in bladder and urine. The tumour versus muscle ratio was (3.8 ± 0.4) for 68Ga‐L1 and (4.7 ± 0.4) for 68Ga‐L2. These results encourage performing further studies in order to complete the evaluation of both tracers as potential radiopharmaceutical for breast cancer imaging.
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