In Vivo Albumin Labeling for Positron Emission Tomography

Authors

• G Niu
• L Lang
• DO Kiesewetter
• X Chen

Abstract

In this study we developed a novel in vivo albumin labeling method to allow PET imaging of cardiac function after myocardial infarction and vascular leakage and increased permeability in inflammatory diseases and malignant tumors. In order to label albumin in vivo, we synthesized a NOTA conjugated truncated Evans blue (NEB). 18F-labeling was achieved by the formation of 18F-aluminum fluoride complex and 64Cu-labeling was obtained by a standard chelation method. NEB was successfully synthesized and 18F-labeling including work-up took about 20-30 min with a radiochemical purity >95% without the need of HPLC purification. Majority of the radioactivity was retained in the circulation system at 60 min postinjection (26.35 ± 1.52 %ID/g). With ECG gated PET, ventricles of the heart and major arteries were clearly visualized. The MI mice showed much lower LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction) than the control mice. Inflammatory muscles showed significantly higher tracer accumulation than the contralateral healthy ones. UM-22B tumor uptake of 64Cu-NEB gradually increased with time (5.73 ± 1.11 %ID/g at 1 h and 8.03 ± 0.77 %ID/g at 2 h p.i.). In conclusion, the distribution and local accumulation of serum albumin can be non-invasively visualized and quantified by 18F-AlF-NEB and 64Cu-NEB PET. The fast and simple labeling as well as broad applications make these Evas blue dye based PET imaging probes attractive for clinical translation.

Scientific Focus Area: Biomedical Engineering and Biophysics

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