In the procurement of a neutral and compact monomeric complex of dithiosemicarbazone (DTS) derivative: 99mTc-KTS

As a basic structure of a bifunctional radiopharmaceutical (BR), dithiosemicarbazone (DTS) enables the formation of a small conjugated chelating ring with divalent metals (Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+), yielding stable and compact complexes. In the development of a neutral and compact monomeric DTS complex of technetium (99mTc), a DTS containing ligand, kethoxal-bis(thiosemicarbazone) (KTS) was selected. A well known monomeric Cu-KTS complex (or 64Cu-KTS) is taken as a model compound, and in vitro (TLC, EP, HPLC) and in vivo (mice biodistribution) studies were compared. Using the stannous chloride method, under conditions to avoid the hydrolytic polynucleation of technetium, a good yield of 99mTc-KTS with characteristics resembling the non-charged, compact and stable Cu-KTS is obtained, in in vitro as well as in vivo studies. The importance of DTS as the constituent of a BR is discussed.