Development of the High-Affinity Carborane-Based Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 PET Ligand [18F]LUZ5- d8

J Med Chem. 2023 Apr 13;66(7):5242-5260. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00195. Epub 2023 Mar 21.

Abstract

The development of cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) radioligands for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was intensively explored. To overcome the low metabolic stability and simultaneously increase the binding affinity of known CB2R radioligands, a carborane moiety was used as a bioisostere. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of carborane-based 1,8-naphthyridinones and thiazoles as novel CB2R ligands. All tested compounds showed low nanomolar CB2R affinity, with (Z)-N-[3-(4-fluorobutyl)-4,5-dimethylthiazole-2(3H)-ylidene]-(1,7-dicarba-closo-dodecaboranyl)-carboxamide (LUZ5) exhibiting the highest affinity (0.8 nM). Compound [18F]LUZ5-d8 was obtained with an automated radiosynthesizer in high radiochemical yield and purity. In vivo evaluation revealed the improved metabolic stability of [18F]LUZ5-d8 compared to that of [18F]JHU94620. PET experiments in rats revealed high uptake in spleen and low uptake in brain. Thus, the introduction of a carborane moiety is an appropriate tool for modifying literature-known CB2R ligands and gaining access to a new class of high-affinity CB2R ligands, while the in vivo pharmacology still needs to be addressed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain* / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain* / metabolism
  • Ligands
  • Positron-Emission Tomography* / methods
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid / metabolism

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid