Nucl Med Mol Imaging.  2015 Sep;49(3):208-216. 10.1007/s13139-015-0323-7.

Preparation and Evaluation of 68Ga-ECC as a PET Renal Imaging Agent

• Mirzaei A
• Jalilian A
• Aghanejad
• Mazidi M
• Yousefnia
• Shabani G
• Ardaneh K
• Geramifar
• Beiki D

• KMID: 2052055
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s13139-015-0323-7

Abstract

PURPOSE
Development of a gallium-68-labeled renal tracer can be a good substitute for Tc-99m, a known SPECT tracer. In this study, effort was made to develop 68Gaethylenecysteamine cysteine (68Ga-ECC).
METHODS
Ga-ECC was prepared using generator-based 68GaCl3 and ethylenecysteamine cysteine (ECC) at optimized conditions. Stability of the complex was checked in human serum followed by partition coefficient determination of the tracer. The biodistribution of the tracer in rats was studied using tissue counting and PET/CT imaging up to 120 min.
RESULTS
Ga-ECC was prepared at optimized conditions in 15 min at 90 degrees C (radiochemical purity approximately97+/-0.88 % ITLC, >99 % HPLC, specific activity: 210+/-5 GBq/mM). 68Ga-ECC was a water-soluble complex based on partition coefficient data (log P; -1.378) and was stable in the presence of human serum for 2 h at 37 degrees C. The biodistribution of the tracer demonstrated high kidney excretion of the tracer in 10-20 min. The SUVmax ratios of the liver to left kidney were 0.38 and 0.39 for 30 and 90 min, respectively, indicating high kidney uptake.
CONCLUSION
Initial biodistribution results showed significant kidney and urinary excretion of the tracer comparable to that of the homologous (99m)Tc compound. The complex could be a possible PET kidney imaging agent with a fast imaging time.

Keyword

68Ga; Ethylenecysteamine cysteine; Biodistribution; Renal agent; PET/CT

MeSH Terms

Animals
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Cysteine
Humans
Kidney
Liver
Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography
Rats
Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
Cysteine