Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect

Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect

In complexation reactions, metal atoms or cations interact with ligands to form donor-acceptor adducts called metal complexes. Ligands that bind through one donor site are monodentate, ligands with two donor sites are bidentate, and those with more than two donor sites are polydentate ligands. For example, ethylene diamine is a bidentate ligand that binds through two nitrogen donor atoms, forming a five-membered ring. EDTA is a polydentate ligand that binds through four oxygen and two nitrogen...

EDTA: Chemistry and Properties

EDTA: Chemistry and Properties

Polydentate ligands are most widely used in complexometric titrations because they form more stable complexes with the metal ions than mono- or bidentate ligands due to the chelate effect. Examples of polydentate ligands are ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), crown ethers, and cryptands. The most important feature of optimal polydentate ligands is the ability to form 1:1 complexes in a single-step process. Amino carboxylic acid derivatives are frequently used as complexing agents. EDTA is...

Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy

Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that provides crucial insights into the body's physiological functions at a molecular level. It is an indispensable resource for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring various illnesses, notably cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular conditions.
Fundamental Principles of PET

Extraction: Advanced Methods

Extraction: Advanced Methods

Metal ions can be separated from one another by complexation with organic ligands–the chelating agent– to form uncharged chelates. Here, the chelating agent must contain hydrophobic groups and behave as a weak acid, losing a proton to bind with the metal. Since most organic ligands used in this process are insoluble or undergo oxidation in the aqueous phase, the chelating agent is initially added to the organic phase and extracted into the aqueous phase. The metal-ligand complex is formed in...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Validation of the standardization framework SSTR-RADS 1.0 for neuroendocrine tumors using the novel SSTR‑targeting peptide [<sup>18</sup>F]SiTATE.

European radiology·2024

Same author

Lymphatic drainage of sinonasal malignancies and the role of sentinel node biopsies.

Orphanet journal of rare diseases·2024

Same author

Enhancing predictability of IDH mutation status in glioma patients at initial diagnosis: a comparative analysis of radiomics from MRI, [<sup>18</sup>F]FET PET, and TSPO PET.

European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging·2024

Same author

Diagnostic accuracy of SSR-PET/CT compared to histopathology in the identification of liver metastases from well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors.

Cancer imaging : the official publication of the International Cancer Imaging Society·2023

Same author

Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie·2022

Same author

Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Preparation and Evaluation of 99mTc-labeled Tridentate Chelates for Pre-targeting Using Bioorthogonal Chemistry

Preparation and Evaluation of ^99mTc-labeled Tridentate Chelates for Pre-targeting Using Bioorthogonal Chemistry

Published on: February 4, 2017

Chelating agents and their use in radiopharmaceutical sciences.

B Wängler¹, R Schirrmacher, P Bartenstein

¹University Hospital Munich, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Munich, Germany.

Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry

|July 19, 2011

Summary

Chelating agents are crucial for stable radiometal complexes in medical imaging and therapy. Choosing the right chelator depends on the metal ion, desired drug properties, and conjugation chemistry for effective treatments.

More Related Videos

Investigations on the Ga(III) Complex of EOB-DTPA and Its 68Ga Radiolabeled Analogue

Investigations on the Ga(III) Complex of EOB-DTPA and Its ⁶⁸Ga Radiolabeled Analogue

Published on: August 17, 2016

Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: July 21, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Preparation and Evaluation of 99mTc-labeled Tridentate Chelates for Pre-targeting Using Bioorthogonal Chemistry

Preparation and Evaluation of ^99mTc-labeled Tridentate Chelates for Pre-targeting Using Bioorthogonal Chemistry

Published on: February 4, 2017

Investigations on the Ga(III) Complex of EOB-DTPA and Its 68Ga Radiolabeled Analogue

Investigations on the Ga(III) Complex of EOB-DTPA and Its ⁶⁸Ga Radiolabeled Analogue

Published on: August 17, 2016

Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: July 21, 2011

Area of Science:

Medicinal Chemistry
Radiochemistry
Molecular Imaging

Background:

Radiometal nuclides are increasingly used for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in human diseases.
Stable complex formation with chelating agents is essential for targeted delivery of these medically relevant ions.
Diverse metal ions necessitate a variety of chelating agents due to differing chemical properties and coordination requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

To review chelating agents utilized in medicinal chemistry for radiometal complexation.
To discuss the factors influencing the selection of chelators for medical applications.
To highlight the impact of chelators on the properties of radiometal-based drugs.

Main Methods:

Literature review of chelating agents and their application in radiometal complexation.
Analysis of coordination chemistry principles relevant to radiometal binding.
Evaluation of conjugation strategies and their influence on chelator choice.

Main Results:

A wide array of chelating agents has been developed to accommodate various metal ions.
Chelator selection is influenced by metal ion properties, desired in vivo behavior, and conjugation chemistry.
The choice of chelator significantly impacts the efficacy and characteristics of the final radiometal drug.

Conclusions:

Appropriate chelating agents are fundamental for developing effective radiometal-based diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
Understanding the interplay between metal ions, chelators, and biological systems is key to advancing molecular imaging and therapy.
This review provides insights into chelator selection for optimizing radiometal drug development.