Mono- and dicationic Re(I)/99mTc(I) tricarbonyl complexes for the targeting of energized mitochondria

The enhanced negative mitochondrial membrane potential of tumor cells can increase the cell accumulation of triphenylphosphonium (TPP) derivatives, which prompted us to investigate TPP-containing Re(I)/99mTc organometallic compounds as probes for in vivo targeting of energized mitochondria. Novel compounds (Re1–Re4/Tc1–Tc4) were obtained with bifunctional chelators of the pyrazole-diamine (N,N,N-donors) and pyrazole-aminocarboxylic (N,N,O-donors) type, functionalized with TPP pharmacophores that have been introduced at the central amine of the chelators using different spacers. In this way, dicationic (Re1–Re2, Tc1–Tc2) and monocationic (Re3–Re4, Tc3–Tc4) complexes with variable lipophilicity were synthesized. The 99mTc complexes (Tc1–Tc4) are highly stable under physiological conditions and their chemical identification was done by HPLC comparison with the Re congeners (Re1–Re4), which were fully characterized by common analytical techniques (electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), IR, multinuclear NMR). The in vitro biological evaluation of Tc1–Tc4 was performed in a panel of human tumor cell lines (PC-3, MCF-7 and H69), including cell lines overexpressing P-glycoprotein (MCF-7/MDR1 and H69/Lx4), and in isolated mitochondria. All the tested complexes showed a low to moderate cellular and mitochondrial uptake and did not undergo significant P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-mediated efflux processes. In particular, the dication Tc2 and the monocation Tc4 presented the highest cellular and mitochondrial uptake. Their cellular uptake was shown to depend on the mitochondrial (Δψm) and plasma membrane (Δψp) potentials. Altogether, the biological properties of these compounds suggest that they might be relevant for the design of radioactive metalloprobes for in vivo targeting of mitochondria.

The first examples of triphenylphosphonium-containing Re(I)/99mTc(I) tricarbonyl complexes are reported, and evaluated in vitro as probes for the targeting of energized mitochondria of tumor cells.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► First examples of triphenyl phosphonium (TPP)-containing Re(I)/99mTc(I) complexes
► The newly synthesized complexes were obtained using pyrazolyl-based chelators
► The 99mTc complexes accumulate in several tumor cell lines of human origin
► Radioactive probes with high in vitro affinity towards tumor mitochondria
► New platforms to design metalloprobes for in vivo targeting of tumoral mitochondria