Radiosynthesis of [¹⁸F]FPenM-C2Am: A PET Imaging Agent for Detecting Cell Death

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Imaging
• Radiochemistry

Background:

• Imaging agents are crucial for assessing cancer therapy efficacy by detecting tumor cell death.
• The C2A domain of synaptotagmin I binds phosphatidylserine, a marker of cell death, enabling imaging.
• Previous work demonstrated the utility of C2A domain for cell death imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the semi-automated 18F labeling of a C2A domain protein variant (C2Am).
• To facilitate the development of novel imaging agents for monitoring cancer treatment response.

Main Methods:

• Site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce a single cysteine residue into the C2A domain (C2Am).
• A semi-automated protocol was developed for incorporating fluorine-18 (18F) into the C2Am protein.
• The labeled C2Am was prepared for potential use as a cell death imaging agent.

Main Results:

• Successfully achieved semi-automated 18F labeling of the C2Am protein.
• The developed method enables the preparation of a radiolabeled protein for imaging applications.
• This advances the potential for clinical use in evaluating cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

• The semi-automated 18F labeling of C2Am provides a viable method for developing cell death imaging agents.
• This technique can aid in early assessment of novel cancer therapies and personalized treatment guidance.