Synthesis, Radiolabeling and Biological Evaluation of (99m)Tc-labeled Deoxyglucose Derivatives for Molecular Imaging

Two deoxyglucose (DG) derivatives, (α,β)-2-deoxy-2-amino(ethylcarbamate)-D-glucose (ECB-DG) and (α,β)-2-deoxy-2-amino(1,2-dihydroxypropyl)-D-glucose (DHP-DG), were synthesized and radiolabeled successfully with [(99m)Tc(H(2)O)(3)(CO)(3)](+) complex. [(99m)Tc]-ECB-DG and [(99m)Tc]-DHP-DG complexes were prepared (96% and 93% radiochemical purities respectively) by using 46 mCi of Na(99m)TcO(4) in 1 mL saline. Radio-HPLC analysis of [(99m)Tc]- ECB-DG at pH = 7.4, revealed that labeling with (99m)Tc leads to formation of one radiochemical species with t(R) = 381 second. Three radiochemical species, Na(99m)TcO(4), [(99m)Tc]-DHP-DG and [(99m)Tc(H(2)O)(3)(CO)(3)](+ )complexes with t(R) = 342 sec, t(R) = 567 sec and t(R) = 1586 sec respectively, were obtained when [(99m)Tc]-DHP-DG complex evaluated by HPLC. Biodistribution of two complexes were studied on normal mice at 10, 30 and 60 min post-injections. Compared to the (18)F-FDG, [(99m)Tc]-ECB-DG displayed a 2.8-fold reduction in brain uptake (1.7 ± 0.2 versus 0.61% ± 0.09) ,whereas [(99m)Tc]-DHP-DG just showed 1.9-fold reduction in heart uptake (2.2 ± 0.05 towards 1.16±0.10) at 1 h post-injection. On the basis of our results, it seems that ECB-DG and DHP-DG analogues could be used as brain and heart imaging agent respectively.