Radiolabeled small molecule protein kinase inhibitors for imaging with PET or SPECT

Imaging protein kinase expression with radiolabeled small molecule inhibitors has been actively pursued to monitor the clinical potential of targeted therapeutics and treatments as well as to determine kinase receptor density changes related to disease progression. The goal of the present review is to provide an overview of the breadth of radiolabeled small molecules that have been synthesized to target intracellular protein kinases, not only for imaging in oncology, but also for other areas of interest, particularly the central nervous system. Considerable radiotracer development has focused on imaging receptor tyrosine kinases of growth factors, protein kinases A, B and C, and glycogen synthase kinase-3?. Design considerations, structural attributes and relevant biological results are summarized.     

Synthesis and application of isocyanates radiolabeled with carbon-11

Carbon-11 labeled isocyanates are efficiently prepared by dehydration of [(11) C]carbamate salts, which in turn are easily formed from cyclotron-produced [(11) C]CO(2) and amines in the presence of a CO(2) fixation agent. The [(11) C]isocyanates are useful radiosynthons for the synthesis of a variety of [carbonyl-(11) C]-labeled asymmetrical ureas and carbamate esters. The method is well suited to incorporate any isotope of carbon, and is especially useful for positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers for in vivo imaging. This is demonstrated by using the method to make [carbonyl-(11) C]-6-hydroxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl cyclohexylcarbamate which is a novel radiotracer for PET imaging of fatty acid amide hydrolase.     

Discovery of a Highly Selective Glycogen Synthase Kinase‐3 Inhibitor (PF‐04802367) That Modulates Tau Phosphorylation in the Brain: Translation for PET Neuroimaging

Glycogen synthase kinase‐3 (GSK‐3) regulates multiple cellular processes in diabetes, oncology, and neurology. N‐(3‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)propyl)‐5‐(3‐chloro‐4‐methoxyphenyl)oxazole‐4‐carboxamide (PF‐04802367 or PF‐367) has been identified as a highly potent inhibitor, which is among the most selective antagonists of GSK‐3 to date. Its efficacy was demonstrated in modulation of tau phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo. Whereas the kinetics of PF‐367 binding in brain tissues are too fast for an effective therapeutic agent, the pharmacokinetic profile of PF‐367 is ideal for discovery of radiopharmaceuticals for GSK‐3 in the central nervous system. A ¹¹C‐isotopologue of PF‐367 was synthesized and preliminary PET imaging studies in non‐human primates confirmed that we have overcome the two major obstacles for imaging GSK‐3, namely, reasonable brain permeability and displaceable binding.     

Synthesis of the dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist (+)-PHNO via supercritical fluid chromatography: preliminary PET imaging study with [3-C]-(+)PHNO

Carbon-11 labeled (+)-4-[1-¹¹C]propyl-3,4,4a,5,6,10b-hexahydro-2H-naphtho[1,2-b][1,4]oxazin-9-ol ([1-¹¹C]-(+)-PHNO) is a dopamine D₃-preferring agonist radiopharmaceutical used for medical imaging by positron emission tomography (PET). We report the synthesis of (+)-PHNO using supercritical fluid chromatography for enantiomeric resolution of its norpropyl derivative, HNO, followed by propylation. (+)-HNO was used to prepare the radiolabeling precursor, (+)-trans-4-acetyl-9-triisopropylsilyloxy-2,3,4a,5,6,10b-hexahydro-4H-naphth[1,2b][1,4]oxazine, in 12 steps. Modifications to the labeling procedure were made to ensure consistent preparation of [3-¹¹C]-(+)-PHNO via [¹¹C]CH₃I. A preliminary PET imaging study was carried out with this tracer in an attempt to image dopamine receptors in brown adipose tissue (brown fat) in vivo.     

Cancer Cell-Specific and Laser-Activatable NanoSeeds for Targeted Photothermal Ablation of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

This investigation reports the quality-by-design (QbD) assisted novel templated approach for developing cancer cell-specific and laser-activatable nanoseeds (AuraTherm) for targeted photothermal ablation of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). AuraTherm was nanometric in size as characterized by SEM, TEM and particle analysis (80.28 ± 2.56 nm; −21.80 ± 0.17 mV) with hemocompatibility and neutrality towards blood components. AuraTherm showed reversible photothermal effect (ΔT: 37 ± 1.2°C → 49.4 ± 1.5°C; 15 min; 2.4 W cm⁻²) employing near-infrared 808 nm laser (NIR-808). The targeted cytosolic localization led to a significant anticancer activity as evaluated using apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis, Intracellular ROS generation assay, cellular uptake and receptor binding assay. The NIR-808 laser-responsive photothermal ablation of cancer cell was found to be more effective compared to without NIR-808 laser-treated counterparts, suggesting the fundamental role of photothermal ablation in the treatment of TNBC.     

Ortho‐Stabilized 18F‐Azido Click Agents and their Application in PET Imaging with Single‐Stranded DNA Aptamers

Azido ¹⁸F‐arenes are important and versatile building blocks for the radiolabeling of biomolecules via Huisgen cycloaddition (“click chemistry”) for positron emission tomography (PET). However, routine access to such clickable agents is challenged by inefficient and/or poorly defined multistep radiochemical approaches. A high‐yielding direct radiofluorination for azido ¹⁸F‐arenes was achieved through the development of an ortho‐oxygen‐stabilized iodonium derivative (OID). This OID strategy addresses an unmet need for a reliable azido ¹⁸F‐arene clickable agent for bioconjugation reactions. A ssDNA aptamer was radiolabeled with this agent and visualized in a xenograft mouse model of human colon cancer by PET, which demonstrates that this OID approach is a convenient and highly efficient way of labeling and tracking biomolecules.     

On the preparation of fluorine-18 labelled XeF(2) and chemical exchange between fluoride ion and XeF(2)

A recent report claims to have prepared [18F]XeF2 by exchange between a large stoichiometric excess of XeF2 and no-carrier-added 18F-, as salts of the [2,2,2-crypt-M+] (M = K or Cs) cations, in CH2Cl2 or CHCl3 solvents at room temperature. Attempts to repeat this work have proven unsuccessful and have led to a critical reinvestigation of chemical exchange between fluoride ion, in the form of anhydrous [N(CH3)4][F] and [2,2,2-crypt-K][F], and XeF2 in dry CH2Cl2 and CH3CN solvents. It was shown, by use of 19F and 1H NMR spectroscopies, that [2,2,2-crypt-K][F] rapidly reacts with CH3CN solvent to form HF2-, and with CH2Cl2 solvent to form HF2-, CH2ClF, and CH2F2 at room temperature. Moreover, XeF2 rapidly oxidizes 2,2,2-crypt in CH2Cl2 solvent at room temperature to form HF and HF2-. Thus, the exchange between XeF2 and no-carrier-added 18F- reported in the prior work arises from exchange between XeF2 and HF/HF2-, and does not involve fluoride ion. However, naked fluoride ion has been shown to undergo exchange with XeF2 under rigorously anhydrous and HF-free conditions. A two-dimensional 19F-19F EXSY NMR study demonstrated that [N(CH3)4][F] exchanges with XeF2 in CH3CN solvent, but exchange of HF2- with either XeF2 or F- is not detectable under these conditions. The exchange between XeF2 and F- is postulated to proceed by the formation of XeF3- as the exchange intermediate.     

Syntheses of [F]5-fluoro-3-nitro-l-tyrosine

The detection of 3-nitro-l-tyrosine has been used as a biomarker of “reactive nitrogen species” in biological matrices and has been an ongoing challenge in analytical chemistry. In this work, fluorine-18 labelled 5-fluoro-3-nitro-l-tyrosine (FNT) was synthesized as a potential radiotracer to probe the biological fate of 3-nitro-l-tyrosine. The synthesis of []FNT was carried out by reaction of []3-fluoro-l-tyrosine with NaNO₃ in TFA solvent for 5 min at 4 °C. The radiochemical yield (RCY) of []FNT was 96±2% and []3-fluoro-l-tyrosine, was 29±1%, relative to []3-fluoro-l-tyrosine and []F₂, respectively. The syntheses of []FNT were also accomplished by direct fluorination of 3-nitro-l-tyrosine with []F₂ and by nitration of l-tyrosine with NaNO₃, followed by fluorination, in TFA (4 °C) or anhydrous HF (−65 °C) solvent. The latter two synthetic routes produced []FNT in 13.5±1.5% RCY, within 1 h. Products were characterized by use of , and NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.