Rearmed Bifunctional Chelating Ligand for 225Ac/155Tb Precision-Guided Theranostic Radiopharmaceuticals─H4noneunpaX

J Med Chem. 2023 Oct 12;66(19):13705-13730. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01151. Epub 2023 Sep 22.

Abstract

Superior bifunctional chelating ligands, which can sequester both α-emitting radionuclides (225Ac, 213Bi) and their diagnostic companions (155Tb, 111In), remain a formidable challenge to translating targeted alpha therapy, with complementary diagnostic imaging, to the clinic. H4noneupaX, a chelating ligand with an unusual diametrically opposed arrangement of pendant donor groups, has been developed to this end. H4noneunpaX preferentially complexes Ln3+ and An3+ ions, forming thermodynamically stable (pLa = 17.8, pLu = 21.3) and kinetically inert complexes─single isomeric species by nuclear magnetic resonance and density functional theory. Metal binding versatility demonstrated in radiolabeling [111In]In3+, [155Tb]Tb3+, [177Lu]Lu3+, and [225Ac]Ac3+ achieved high molar activities under mild conditions. Efficient, scalable synthesis enabled in vivo evaluation of bifunctional H4noneunpaX conjugated to two octreotate peptides targeting neuroendocrine tumors. Single photon emission computed tomography/CT and biodistribution studies of 155Tb-radiotracers in AR42J tumor-bearing mice showed excellent image contrast, good tumor uptake, and high in vivo stability. H4noneunpaX shows significant potential for theranostic applications involving 225Ac/155Tb or 177Lu/155Tb.