Zirconium-89: Radiochemistry and Ligand Development toward Improved PET Applications

Author

Melissa Ann Deri, Graduate Center, City University of New York

Date of Degree

9-2015

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

Chemistry

Advisor

Lynn C. Francesconi

Subject Categories

Chemistry

Keywords

Bifunctional Chelator; DFO; HOPO; Ligands; Positron Emission Tomography; Zirconium-89

Abstract

Antibodies are attractive targeting vectors for positron emission tomography (PET) based imaging agents due to their high affinity and selectivity to a variety of biological targets. Creating such imaging agents requires a radionuclide with suitable decay characteristics. This role has been filled by zirconium-89 which has a 78.41 h half-life that ideally matches the multi-day biological half-life of IgG antibodies.

However, the use of a radiometal necessitates the use of a bifunctional chelator to bind the metal and conjugate to the antibody. For ⁸⁹Zr this has been the purview of various derivatives of desferrioxamine B (DFO); however, the observed uptake of radioactivity in the bones of mice is evidence of in vivo release of ⁸⁹Zr⁴⁺. A more robust chelator designed specifically around the chemistry of Zr⁴⁺ could eliminate the release of the bone-seeking ⁸⁹Zr⁴⁺ cation in vivo and thus make for a safer, more effective PET tracer with reduced dose to non-target tissues.

The investigation of alternative ligands will be described with an emphasis on the lead compound: a hydroxypyridinone based chelator -- 3,4,3-(LI-1,2-HOPO) or HOPO. The evaluation of the chelator itself will be detailed leading to the development of a bifunctional derivative -- _p-SCN-Bn-HOPO -- that can be applied within the world of PET imaging.

Recommended Citation

Deri, Melissa Ann, "Zirconium-89: Radiochemistry and Ligand Development toward Improved PET Applications" (2015). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/903