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Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) represent very attractive and promising drug delivery carriers due to their unique dimensions, adjustable surface functions, and controllable drug release. Therefore, AuNPs are used to overcome the limitations of conventional chemotherapy, for example methotrexate (Mex), one of the first-generation chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment, whose usefulness has been restricted due to drug resistance and dose-dependent side effects. In the present study, the AuNPs drug delivery system was synthesized and loaded with technetium-99 m radiolabeled Methotrexate (99mTc-Mex) to produce new potential nanoradiopharmaceutical for tumor targeting and further imaging. The Methotrexate loaded gold nanoparticles (Mex-AuNPs) successfully prepared in small spherical particle size (20.3 nm), polydispersity index PDI ( 90 %. The preclinical biodistribution studies of 99mTc-Mex-AuNPs were performed in 3 experimental groups A (intravenous (I.V.) injected normal mice), B and C (I.V. and intratumor (I.T.) injected tumor bearing mice, respectively). The 99mTc-Mex-AuNPs achieved highest tumor uptake (93 ± 0.39 %ID/g) and highest Target/NonTarget (T/NT) ratio (58.1 ± 0.91) with high Tumor/Blood (T/B) ratio (25.8 ± 0.11) at 10 min post I.T. injection and retained high tumor uptake (79 ± 0.65 %ID/g) up to 60 min post I.T. injection before escaping into blood stream. Consequently, 99mTc-Mex-AuNPs can be considered as new potential nanoradiopharmaceutical in tumor diagnosis.

The [99mTc]Tc-Doxorubicin–Gold Nanoparticles (99mTc-Dox-AuNPs) was formulated as a nanoradiopharmaceutical by different loading procedures to enhance tumor targeting. The formula F1 that was prepared by direct loading of pre-prepared [99mTc]Tc-Doxorubicin showed a reasonable in-vitro characterization values, high entrapment efficiency (92 ± 0.72%), acceptable in vitro release data and convenient in-vitro serum stability up to 24 h. F1 presented high tumor uptake (54%ID/g) with high Target/ Non Target (T/NT) ( ≈ 77) and Drug Target Efficiency percent (%DTE) above 100% at 0.5 h via intra-tumoral injection that prove the increasing of tumor targeting and in-vivo stability by direct loading for pre-prepared [99mTc]Tc-Doxorubicin.

Purpose: Ifosfamide as a chemotherapeutic drug is used for the treatment of different cancer types. The purpose of this study is the preparation of 99mTc-ifosfamide complex to be evaluated as a pot...

Non-invasive molecular imaging techniques are accruing more interest in the last decades. Several radiolabelling elements have been FDA-approved and are currently used to characterize tumors. In this study, the DNA intercalating agent doxorubicin was radiolabelled with 125I. Several parameters for the radiolabelling reaction were investigated and optimized. A maximum yield of 94 ± 0.3% was reached after reacting 20 μg of doxorubicin with 200 μg Chloramine-T at pH 5 for 30 min. The in vivo stability of 125I-doxorubicin is validated by the low propensity for thyroid uptake in mice. The preclinical T/NT ratio was approximately 6.4 at 30 min. Docking and molecular dynamics confirmed that the radiolabelling of doxorubicin did not affect (or slightly improved its binding to DNA). Overall, 125I-doxorubicin was demonstrated to be a promising non-invasive probe for solid tumor imaging.

Virus infections are an increasing and probably lasting global risk. Nucleoside and nucleotide analogs represent the largest class of antiviral drugs. Early success in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection and the recent approval of sofosbuvir as phosphoramidate nucleoside prodrug for chronic hepatitis C have provided proof of concept for important this class of compounds as an antiviral agent. This review summarizes the antiviral activity of nucleoside and nucleotide analogs and their recent application.

The aim of the presented study is to investigate a new promising radiopharmaceutical tracer able to visualize and differentiate inflammation versus infection in early stages. Radioiodinated tenoxicam ( 125 I-tenoxicam) was prepared and its radiochemical yield and in vitro stability were assayed. The biodistribution studies were conducted on two different mice models: sterile inflammation and bacterial infection mice models. 125I-tenoxicam showed high T/NT accumulation in the inflammatory tissues revealing high selectivity to the inflammatory tissues in contrast to infection bearing mice. The docking study using CDOCKER protocol for tenoxicam and radioiodinated tenoxicam with COX enzymes was performed to confirm that radioiodinated tenoxicam still retaining COX enzymes selectivity.

The current study is aimed to prepare 99mTc-lidocaine as a new myocardial perfusion-imaging agent. The used 99mTc was obtained from Al–99Mo-molybdate(VI) gel matrix. 99mTc-lidocaine showed higher (15.4 ± 0.11% ID/g) and faster (15 min post injection) cardiac uptake than the recently studied 99mTc-valsartan and 99mTc-procainamide. Consequently, 99mTc-lidocaine will be a valuable myocardial SPECT agent for diagnosis of emergency patients. Besides, the receptor affinity study confirmed the selectivity of 99mTc-lidocaine for sodium channels in the heart.

Several novel thiazolidinone and fused thiazolidinone derivatives bearing benzenesulfonamide moiety were synthesized and confirmed via spectral and elemental analyses. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity on colorectal cancer cell line (Caco-2). All the synthesized compounds showed better activity than the reference standards (Doxorubicin and 5-FU). Investigation of the apoptotic activity of the most active compounds revealed that compounds 3a, 5a, 5c and 6c activate both caspase-3 and Fas-ligand in Caco-2 cell line. Compound 3a was the most active compound with caspase-3 concentration of 0.43 nmol/mL and Fas-ligand concentration of 775.2 pg/mL in treated Caco-2 cells. Compound 3a was radiolabeled with 99mTc and its biodistribution pattern was evaluated in vivo using normal Swiss Albino mice. 99mTc-compound 3a complex didn't exhibit any accumulation in any body organs except for its accumulation in the colon; target organ; where it showed 8.97 ± 1.35 %ID/g at 15min p. i. that elevated till 16.02 ± 2.43 %ID/g at 120min p. i.

The purpose of our study was to improve the delivery of a direct-acting antiviral drug, daclatasvir, to the site of action, liver tissues, using physically and biologically stable cationic bile-based vesicles. Accordingly, cationic bile-based vesicles were prepared as pro-bile-based vesicles and diethylaminoethyl dextran (DEAE-Dx)-stabilized bile-based vesicles to increase their stability without negatively affecting their hepatic affinity. The prepared bile-based vesicles were characterized for particle size, polydispersity index, ζ-potential, in vitro daclatasvir release, and ex vivo permeation using non-everted gut sac intestine. The in vivo biodistribution was experimented after oral administration utilizing the radiolabeling assay, where the liver showed the highest accumulation of the DEAE-Dx-stabilized bile-based vesicles after 4 h, reaching a value of 4.6% ID/g of the total oral administered dose of the labeled drug compared to drug solution, pro-bile-based vesicles, and cationic bile-based vesicles where the accumulation was 0.19, 1.3, and 0.31% ID/g, respectively. DEAE-Dx-stabilized bile-based vesicles increased the drug deposition into the liver about 42-fold compared to oral solution. The high physical stability and the high resistance to opsonization and clearance show that DEAE-Dx-stabilized bile-based vesicles could be efficiently applied for enhancing daclatasvir delivery to the liver after oral administration.

A new series of thiazolidinone (5a-g), thiazinone (9a-g) and dithiazepinone (9a-g) heterocycles bearing a benzenesulfonamide scaffold was synthesized. Cytotoxicity of these derivatives was assessed against MCF-7, HepG2, HCT-116 and A549 cancer cell lines and activity was compared to the known cytotoxic agents doxorubicin and 5-FU where the most active compounds displayed better to nearly similar IC50 values to the reference compounds. For assessing selectivity, the most active derivatives against MCF-7, 5b, 5c and 5e, were also assessed against the normal breast cell line MCF-10 A where they demonstrated high selective cytotoxicity to cancerous cells over that to normal cells. Further, the effect of the most active compounds 5b-e on MCF-7 and HepG2 cell cycle phase distribution was assessed and the tested sulfonamide derivatives were found to induce accumulation of cells in the

The development of cancer theranostic nanomedicines is recommended to concurrently achieve and evaluate the therapeutic benefit and progress. The current work aims to develop gallic acid-gold nanoparticles (GA-Au NPs) as a theranostic probe for 99mTc-Doxorubicin (99mTc-DOX) based on the spatiotemporal release pattern induced intra-tumoral (IT) delivery. DOX-loaded GA-Au NPs were developed and identified via UV–Vis spectroscopy. The system was characterized for drug loading efficiency%, particle size, zeta potential, topography, in vitro DOX release and anti-proliferative activity against the MCF-7 cell-line. The factors influencing radiolabeling efficiency of DOX with 99mTc (DOX concentration, stannous chloride concentration, reaction time and pH) were optimized. The in vitro stability in mice serum and in vivo distribution studies in mice of 99mTc-DOX-loaded GA-Au NPs were investigated following IV and IT administration. Dox-loaded GA-Au NPs had a loading efficiency of 91%, a small particle size (≈50 nm), a promising zeta potential (−20 mV) and a sustained drug release profile at pH 5.3. GA-Au NPs exhibited increased anti-proliferative activity, with approximately a four-fold lower IC50 value (0.15 μg/ml) than free DOX. The optimized radiolabeling efficiency of 99mTc-DOX was ≈93%. It showed good physiological stability in mice serum for at least 8 h. The IT delivery of 99mTc-DOX-loaded GA-Au NPs in tumor-induced mice showed dramatic tumor accumulation. A maximum magnitude of 86.73%ID/g was achieved, at 15 min post-injection, with a target/non-target ratio of ≈56. 99mTc-DOX-loaded GA-Au NPs could be used for the selective IT delivery of a chemotherapeutic agent and an imaging agent to a target organ.

Gold nanoparticles are currently used for the treatment of cancer through a myriad of modalities and delivery approaches. Conjugation of tumor imaging Single Photon Emitting Computed Tomographic (SPECT) radiopharmaceutical to gold nanoparticles will allow systemic targeting and imaging of cancer tissues simultaneously. In this study, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were prepared using Epigallocatechingallate (EGCG), loaded with doxorubicin (Dox), and characterized before and after doxorubicin conjugation. Cytotoxicity of EGCG-AuNPs and Dox-EGCG-AuNPs were evaluated against breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2) cell lines demonstrating high cytotoxic effects of Dox-EGCG-AuNPs against both cell lines. Doxorubicin was radiolabeled with 99mTc and our new approach has optimized various labeling conditions resulting in a radiochemical yield of 93.5 ± 2.04%. Biodistribution of 99mTc-Dox-EGCG-AuNPs was studied in normal and tumor bearing mice following I.V. and intratumoral injections at different time intervals. Results showed high uptake of the intravenously injected 99mTc-Dox-EGCG-AuNPs in tumor tissue (22.45 %ID/g at 2 h). In addition, localized intratumoral injection of 99mTc-Dox-EGCG-AuNPs showed extremely high levels of uptake in tumor (80.22 %ID/g at 15 min) with high retention for extended periods post injection. Our results present prospects for the utility of 99mTc-Dox-EGCG-AuNPs as a multiplexed theranostic agent through SPECT imaging of tumor tissue and therapy through photothermal destruction of cancer tissue through the application of exogenous laser lights as well as through tyrosine phosphatases inhibitor (through EGCG), and topoisomerase II inhibitor (through doxorubicin) effects.

Challenges facing cardiovascular imaging necessitate innovation of better radiopharmaceuticals to augment or replace the existing ones. This research assesses the ability and competency of radioiodinated esmolol as a potential cardio selective imaging agent. Radioiodinated esmolol was synthesized with 97.3 ± 0.3% radiochemical yield and with high stability up to 48 h at room temperature as well as in rat serum. Molecular modeling study was performed to confirm the binding of iodinated esmolol to β1-adrenergic receptor. Its biodistribution studies in normal Swiss albino mice showed high heart uptake (38.5 ± 0.11%ID/g at 5 min p.i.), heart/liver ratio nearly 3.85:1 and heart/lungs ratio was about 7:1 at 5 min p.i. The evidenced selectivity of the radioiodinated esmolol to β1-adrenoceptor was confirmed by prior injection of cold esmolol. Gamma camera biodistribution pattern showed that radioiodinated esmolol accumulated selectively in heart.

This study describes the preparation of radioiodinated anastrozole and epirubicin and their biological evaluation as potential solid tumor imaging gents. Radioiodinated anastrozole and epirubicin were successfully prepared via direct electrophilic substitution reaction at ambient temperature. The radiochemical yields for radioiodinated anastrozole and epirubicin were maximized to 92.9 ± 0.1 and 98.8 ± 0.1 %, respectively by studying different reaction parameters such as substrate amount, chloramine-T, pH of the reaction mixture, reaction temperature and reaction time. They showed in vitro stability up to 4 and 24 h, respectively. The preclinical evaluation and biodistribution in mice bearing solid tumor showed high retention and biological accumulation in solid tumor cells (12.4 and 25.3 % injected activity/g tissue) and high T/NT ratio equal to 4.7 ± 0.1 and 5.2 ± 0.1 at 2 and 1 h post-injection, respectively. Data described before could recommend radioiodinated anastrozole and radioiodinated epirubicin as potential targeting radiopharmaceuticals for solid tumor imaging.

Acebutolol was successfully labeled with (125) I via direct electrophilic substitution reaction. Radioiodinated acebutolol was prepared with a maximum radiochemical yield of 96.5 ± 0.3% and in vitro stability up to 72 h. The in vivo biological distribution of radioiodinated acebutolol showed high heart uptake of 37.8 ± 0.14% injected activity/g organ with low lungs and liver uptakes at 5 min post-injection. In vivo receptor blocking study was carried out in mice to evaluate its selectivity to heart. Radioiodinated acebutolol showed fast heart accumulation with high heart/liver ratio, which provides the ability for fast myocardial imaging with significant decrease in the radiation hazards risk on patients. So, radioiodinated acebutolol could be displayed as a radiotracer drug of choice in case of emergency patients for myocardial perfusion imaging.

Radioiodinated fenoterol and reproterol were prepared by electrophilic radioiodination reaction using chloramin-T as oxidizing agent with radiochemical yields of 97.7 ± 0.7 and 95.2 ± 0.3 %, respectively, and in vitro stability up to 72 h. Biodistribution study performed in male Albino Swiss mice showed maximum radioactivity accumulation in lungs tissue to the extent of 52 ± 1.03 and 50.6 ± 1.2 % ID/g at 15 and 30 min post injection (p.i.) for radioiodinated fenoterol and reproterol, respectively, with low accumulation in heart and blood. The clearance pathway of both iodo-compounds was through renal and hepatobiliary routes. The selectivity of iodo-compounds to lung was examined by in vivo receptor blocking study. Radioiodinated fenoterol and reproterol are not a blood products and so they are more safer than the currently available 99mTc-MAA, and their lungs uptake is higher than that of the recently discovered 125/123I-IPMPD, 99mTc(CO)5I, 99mTc-DHPM and 125/123I-paroxetine. So, radioiodinated fenoterol and reproterol could be introduced as a new compromising radiopharmaceuticals for lung perfusion scintigraphy more safe than the currently available 99mTc-MAA and more potential than the recently discovered 125/123I-IPMPD, 99mTc(CO)5I, 99mTc-DHPM and 125/123I-paroxetine.

The aim of this study is the formulation of a new radiopharmaceutical for imaging solid tumor bearing. Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analogue used as chemotherapeutic agent. Gemcitabine was formulated and radiolabeled with one of the most important diagnostic radioactive isotopes (technetium-99m) to be investigated in solid tumor imaging. The labeling parameters such as gemcitabine amount, stannous chloride amount, pH of the reaction mixture, and reaction time were optimized. 99mTc–gemcitabine was prepared at pH 9 with a maximum labeling yield of 96 ± 0.3 % without any notable decomposition at room temperature over a period of 8 h. The preclinical evaluation and biodistribution in solid tumor bearing mice showed that 99mTc–gemcitabine had solid tumor selectivity, preclinical high biological accumulation in tumor cells and high retention. Tumor/normal muscle (T/NT) ratios increased with time showing high T/NT ratio (T/NT = 4.9 ± 0.27 at 120 min post injection) and high Tumor/Blood ratio (3.4 ± 0.06), suggesting 99mTc–gemcitabine as a novel solid tumor imaging agent.

Tyrosine kinases are groups of enzymes, which are over-expressed in solid tumor cells, representing good targets for different drugs such as sunitinib (N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-5-{[(3Z)-5-fluoro-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-3-ylidene]methyl}-2,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamide). The aim of this work was to design and synthesize (99m)Tc-sunitinib radiotracer and to study its tumor binding specificity as a novel selective radiopharmaceutical for tumor hypoxia imaging. The in vivo biodistribution of (99m)Tc-sunitinib in tumor bearing mice showed high target/non-target (T/NT) ratio (T/NT ~ 3 at 60 min post injection). This preclinical high biological accumulation in tumor cells suggests that (99m)Tc-sunitinib is ready to go through the clinical trials as a potential selective radiotracer able to image tumor hypoxia.

Non-invasive quantification of myocardial β-receptors could become an independent prognostic marker for chronic heart failure and cardiovascular disorders. The aim of this study was to formulate a novel radiopharmaceutical for the detection of myocardial infarction at early stages in susceptible patients, which requires the development of high myocardium affinity radiopharmaceuticals able to establish an accurate in vivo quantification of cardiac β1-adrenoceptors. This was attained by the direct complexation of nebivolol as a cardioselective agent with technetium-99m as one of the most useful radionuclides in diagnostic nuclear medicine. Factors affecting the radiochemical yield such as nebivolol amount, stannous chloride amount, reaction time and pH of the reaction mixture were optimized. The results showed that the radiochemical yield was 95 ± 2.87 % and the radiolabeled compound was separated by high performance liquid chromatography. In vitro studies showed that the formed complex was stable for up to 24 h. In vivo uptake of 99mTc-nebivolol in the heart was 4.55 ± 0.23 % ID/g organ at 0.5 h post injection, whereas the clearance from Albino mice appeared to proceed via the hepatobiliary and renal clearance pathways. Predosing mice with cold nebivolol reduced the heart uptake to 1.1 ± 0.02 % and further confirmed the high specificity and selectivity of this radiotracer for the assessment of the myocardial β1-adrenoceptors.

Meropenem was successfully radiolabeled with 99mTc in high labeling yield (92 ± 2%) and stability (~6 h). 99mTc–meropenem showed high accumulation in tumor hypoxic tissue (4.193% injected dose/g organ). 99mTc–meropenem showed high ability to differentiate the tumor tissue from inflamed or infected tissues in different mice models as its T/NT ratio ~4 in case of tumor mice model while T/NT ratio ~1 in case of inflamed mice model. So, 99mTc–meropenem showed high selectivity in comparison with FDG-PET and 99mTc-nitroimidazole analogues. Thus, 99mTc–meropenem could be used as a selective potential imaging agent for diagnosis of tumor hypoxia.

Zirconium molybdate gel was prepared by mixing (99)Mo, produced from (98)Mo(n,gamma) reaction and Zr solutions in nitrate media with excess H(2)O(2), and used as the base material for (99)Mo/(99m)Tc generator. The prepared generator showed a good performance. (99m)Tc eluted from the prepared generator passed the quality control tests with specifications meeting the requirements of European and US Pharmacopeias. The (99m)Tc eluate was used for labeling of cephalosporin analogue, ceftriaxone, which was then assessed for infection imaging in a mouse model. (99m)Tc-ceftriaxone was prepared at pH 9 with a radiochemical yield of 95+/-2% by adding (99m)Tc to 30 mg ceftriaxone in the presence of 50 microg SnCl(2).2H(2)O. Biodistribution studies in mice were carried out using experimentally induced infection in the left thigh using E. coli. Both thighs of the mice were dissected and counted to evaluate the ratio of bacterial infected thigh/contralateral thigh. (99m)Tc-ceftriaxone showed high uptake in the infectious lesion (T/NT =5.6+/-0.6 at 4h post injection). The abscess to normal muscle ratio indicated that (99m)Tc-ceftriaxone could be used for infection imaging. Besides, in vitro studies showed that (99m)Tc-ceftriaxone can differentiate between bacterial infection and sterile inflammation.