Synthesis and biodistribution of two novel 99mTc “3+1”mixed ligand complexes as potential brain perfusion agents

The research in the last decade has been mainly aimed at the development of technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals, among which are the “3+1”mixed ligand complexes. Two novel ^99mTc]“3+1”mixed ligand complexes each carrying the tridentate ligand, the N-(o-Methylthiophenyl)ethylenediamine or the N-(o-Methylthiophenyl)-b-mercaptoacetamide in combination with monothiolate coligand were produced using stannous chloride as reductant and glucoheptonate as transfer ligand. The identification of ^99mTc]-6 and ^99mTc]-7 was established by thin layer chromatography. The radiochemical purity of two complexes was over 90%. Biodistribution data in mice showed that both ^99mTc]-6 and ^99mTc]-7 can penetrate the intact blood-brain barrier and exhibited retention in mice brain. The brain uptakes (%ID/g) were 1.76, 1.17, 0.90 and 0.68, 0.38 ,0.37 at 2, 30, and 60 minutes i.v. postinjection for ^99mTc]-6 and ^99mTc]-7, respectively. Examples in this report comfirm us that it is promising to develop ^99mTc complexes as potential brain perfusion agents based on modifying either the tridentate or the monodentate ligands. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.