Preparation and preliminary evaluation of [67Ga]-tetra phenyl porphyrin complexes as possible imaging agents

Production and Clinical Applications of Radiopharmaceuticals and Medical Radioisotopes in Iran

During past 3 decades, nuclear medicine has flourished as vibrant and independent medical specialty in Iran. Since that time, more than 200 nuclear physicians have been trained and now practicing in nearly 158 centers throughout the country. In the same period, Tc-99m generators and variety of cold kits for conventional nuclear medicine were locally produced for the first time. Local production has continued to mature in robust manner while fulfilling international standards. To meet the ever-growing demand at the national level and with international achievements in mind, work for production of other Tc-99m-based peptides such as ubiquicidin, bombesin, octreotide, and more recently a kit formulation for Tc-99m TRODAT-1 for clinical use was introduced. Other than the Tehran Research Reactor, the oldest facility active in production of medical radioisotopes, there is one commercial and three hospital-based cyclotrons currently operational in the country. I-131 has been one of the oldest radioisotope produced in Iran and traditionally used for treatment of thyrotoxicosis and differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Since 2009, (131)I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine has been locally available for diagnostic applications. Gallium-67 citrate, thallium-201 thallous chloride, and Indium-111 in the form of DTPA and Oxine are among the early cyclotron-produced tracers available in Iran for about 2 decades. Rb-81/Kr-81m generator has been available for pulmonary ventilation studies since 1996. Experimental production of PET radiopharmaceuticals began in 1998. This work has culminated with development and optimization of the high-scale production line of (18)F-FDG shortly after installation of PET/CT scanner in 2012. In the field of therapy, other than the use of old timers such as I-131 and different forms of P-32, there has been quite a significant advancement in production and application of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals in recent years. Application of (131)I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine for treatment of neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma, and other neuroendocrine tumors has been steadily increasing in major academic university hospitals. Also (153)Sm-EDTMP, (177)Lu-EDTMP, (90)Y-citrate, (90)Y-hydroxyapatite colloid, (188/186)Re-sulfur colloid, and (188/186)Re-HEDP have been locally developed and now routinely available for bone pain palliation and radiosynovectomy. Cu-64 has been available to the nuclear medicine community for some time. With recent reports in diagnostic and therapeutic applications of this agent especially in the field of oncology, we anticipate an expansion in production and availability. The initiation of the production line for gallium-68 generator is one of the latest exciting developments. We are proud that Iran would be joining the club of few nations with production lines for this type of generator. There are also quite a number of SPECT and PET tracers at research and preclinical stage of development preliminarily introduced for possible future clinical applications. Availability of fluorine-18 tracers and gallium-68 generators would no doubt allow rapid dissemination of PET/CT practices in various parts of our large country even far from a cyclotron facility. Also, local production and availability of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals are going to open exciting horizons in the field of nuclear medicine therapy. Given the available manpower, local infrastructure of SPECT imaging, and rapidly growing population, the production of Tc-99m generators and cold kit would continue to flourish in Iran.

Preparation and biological evaluation of a carrier free 90yttrium labelled porphyrin as a possible agent for targeted therapy of tumor

In this research article, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(phenyl)porphyrin (H2TPP) was produced and characterized. Then, radiolabeling of H2TPP was performed using the carrier free Y-90 which was prepared by the use of a home-made yttrium imprinted sorbent. The radiolabeling procedure was accomplished at 60 [Formula: see text] C during 12 h with a suitable radiochemical purity (95 ± 2% ITLC, 99 ± 0.5% HPLC) and specific activity of (1.0 ± 0.1 GBq/mmol). The obtained radio-labeled H2TPP in final formulation was kept for a week in order to investigate the complex stability. Accordingly, the partition coefficient was calculated as log [Formula: see text] 2.05. Furthermore, the biodistribution of the [Formula: see text]Y–TPP was determined in vital organs of normal wild-type rats using scarification studies. The kidneys could mostly remove the radio-complexes from the blood circulation and in less extends from the liver. As a result it is expected that due to its lipophilicity the higher mitochondrial and thus, tumor cell uptake of this radiolabeled porphyrin happens and therefore [Formula: see text]Y–TPP could act as an efficient potential agent for targeted therapy of tumor.

Nuclear medicine for photodynamic therapy in cancer: Planning, monitoring and nuclear PDT

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a modality with promising results for the treatment of various cancers. PDT is increasingly included in the standard of care for different pathologies. This therapy relies on the effects of light delivered to photosensitized cells. At different stages of delivery, PDT requires imaging to plan, evaluate and monitor treatment. The contribution of molecular imaging in this context is important and continues to increase. In this article, we review the contribution of nuclear medicine imaging in oncology to PDT for planning and therapeutic monitoring purposes. Several solutions have been proposed to plan PDT from nuclear medicine imaging. For instance, photosensitizer biodistribution has been evaluated with a radiolabeled photosensitizer or with conventional radiopharmaceuticals on positron emission tomography. The effects of PDT delivery have also been explored with specific SPECT or PET radiopharmaceuticals to evaluate the effects on cells (apoptosis, necrosis, proliferation, metabolism) or vascular damage. Finally, the synergy between photosensitizers and radiopharmaceuticals has been studied considering the Cerenkov effect to activate photosensitized cells.

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of a well dispersed suspension of gallium-68-labeled magnetic nanosheets of graphene oxide for in vivo coincidence imaging

Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were hybridized with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) to form magnetic GO (MGO) and were further labeled by [68Ga]GaCl3 as a potential drug delivery system. Paper chromatography, Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy, low-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), CHN and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were utilized to characterize the trinary composite ([68Ga]@MGO). Biological evaluations of the prepared nanocomposite were performed in normal Sprague Dawley rats and it was found to be a possible host for theranostic radiopharmaceuticals. The results showed that the grafting of Fe3O4 NPs on nanocomposite reduced the unwanted liver and spleen uptakes and increased the ratio of kidney/liver uptake from 0.037 to 1.07, leading to the fast removal of radioactive agent and less imposed radiation to patients. The high level of hydrogen bonding caused by the presence of functional groups is responsible for this effect. Considering the accumulation of the tracer in vital organs of rat (especially brain), efficient iron oxide grafting, fast wash-out, the short half-life gallium-68 and less imposed radiation doses to patients, this nanocomposite could be a suitable candidate for positron emission tomography (PET) studies and imaging applications.

Radiolabelled porphyrins in nuclear medicine

Amongst tumour-specific substances, hematoporphyrin and synthetic porphyrin derivatives have been widely investigated to identify and delineate neoplastic and malignant tissue. Whilst the tumour localization exhibited by selected porphyrin species has been exploited through photodynamic therapy, several examples of porphyrin derivatives with varied peripheral functionality have been radiolabelled with the aim of developing porphyrin-based nuclear imaging and therapeutic agents. In this review, we look at the approaches and advances in the preparation and uses of such radiolabelled agents for imaging and therapy.

Development of a (68)Ga-Fluorinated Porphyrin Complex as a Possible PET Imaging Agent

AIM

Due to the interesting pharmacologic properties of porphyrins, the idea of developing a possible tumor imaging agent using PET by incorporating (68)Ga into a suitable porphyrin ligand was investigated.

METHODS

(68)Ga-labeled 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluoro-13 phenyl) porphyrin ((68)Ga-TFPP) was prepared using freshly eluted [(68)Ga]GaCl3 obtained from a 68Ge/68Ga generator developed in-house and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (H2TFPP) for 60 min at 100°C.

RESULTS

The complex was prepared with high radiochemical purity (>99% ITLC, >99% HPLC, specific activity: 13-14 GBq/mmol). Stability of the complex was checked in the final formulation and in human serum for 5 h. The partition coefficient was calculated for the compound (log P = 0.62). The biodistribution of the labeled compound in vital organs of Swiss mice bearing fibrosarcoma tumors was studied using scarification studies and SPECT imaging up to 1 h. The complex was mostly washed out from the circulation through kidneys and liver. The tumor-to-muscle ratio 1 h post injection was 5.13.

CONCLUSION

The radiolabeled porphyrin complex demonstrated potential for further imaging studies in other tumor models.