Metal-Based Complexes as Pharmaceuticals for Molecular Imaging of the Liver

Julia Greiser; Wolfgang Weigand; Martin Freesmeyer

doi:10.3390/ph12030137

Metal-Based Complexes as Pharmaceuticals for Molecular Imaging of the Liver

Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2019 Sep 16;12(3):137. doi: 10.3390/ph12030137.

Authors

Julia Greiser¹, Wolfgang Weigand², Martin Freesmeyer³

Affiliations

¹ University Hospital Jena, Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany. julia.greiser@med.uni-jena.de.
² Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University, Humboldtstrasse 8, 07743 Jena, Germany. wolfgang.weigand@uni-jena.de.
³ University Hospital Jena, Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany. martin.freesmeyer@med.uni-jena.de.

Abstract

This article reviews the use of metal complexes as contrast agents (CA) and radiopharmaceuticals for the anatomical and functional imaging of the liver. The main focus was on two established imaging modalities: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear medicine, the latter including scintigraphy and positron emission tomography (PET). The review provides an overview on approved pharmaceuticals like Gd-based CA and ^99mTc-based radiometal complexes, and also on novel agents such as ⁶⁸Ga-based PET tracers. Metal complexes are presented by their imaging modality, with subsections focusing on their structure and mode of action. Uptake mechanisms, metabolism, and specificity are presented, in context with advantages and limitations of the diagnostic application and taking into account the respective imaging technique.

Keywords: MRI; PET; SPECT; contrast agents; diagnostics; liver; metal complexes; metals; molecular imaging; radiopharmaceuticals.

Publication types

Review