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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells
Published on: April 11, 2014
[(11)C]Ascorbic and [(11)C]dehydroascorbic acid, an endogenous redox pair for sensing reactive oxygen species using
V N Carroll1, C Truillet, B Shen
1Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94107, USA. David.M.Wilson@ucsf.edu.
We developed radiolabeled vitamin C forms, [(11)C]ascorbic acid and [(11)C]dehydroascorbic acid, for detecting reactive oxygen species (ROS). This enables in vivo ROS detection using positron emission tomography (PET).
Area of Science:
- Biomedical imaging
- Radiochemistry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play critical roles in cellular signaling and disease.
- Current methods for in vivo ROS detection have limitations.
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a key endogenous antioxidant involved in redox homeostasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel positron emission tomography (PET) tracers for ROS sensing.
- To synthesize radiolabeled reduced and oxidized forms of vitamin C.
- To establish a foundation for in vivo ROS detection using PET.
Main Methods:
- Radiosynthesis of carbon-11 labeled ascorbic acid ([(11)C]VitC).
- Radiosynthesis of carbon-11 labeled dehydroascorbic acid ([(11)C]DHA).
- Evaluation of the application of these tracers for ROS sensing.
Main Results:
- Successful radiosynthesis of [(11)C]VitC and [(11)C]DHA.
- Demonstration of the utility of these tracers for ROS sensing.
- Establishment of a basis for in vivo ROS detection.
Conclusions:
- [(11)C]VitC and [(11)C]DHA are viable PET tracers for ROS sensing.
- This work paves the way for non-invasive in vivo ROS monitoring.
- PET imaging of ROS is now feasible using these novel radiotracers.
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