Grafting of [64Cu]-TPPF20 porphyrin complex on Functionalized nano-porous MCM-41 silica as a potential cancer imaging agent

•[64Cu]-TPPF20@NH2-MCM-41 nanocomposites were used for in vivo targeting and PET imaging of tumors.•In vivo biodistribution study showed high tumor uptake of the nanocomposites.

Mesoporous silica, MCM-41, functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was investigated as a potential drug delivery system, using [64Cu]-5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis penta fluorophenyl porphyrin complex. [64Cu]-TPPF20 complex was grafted on functionalized MCM-41. The product was characterized by paper chromatography, FTIR spectroscopy, low angle X-ray diffraction, CHN and TGA/DTA analyses and atomic force microscopy. The biological evaluations of the grafted complex, [64Cu]-TPPF20@NH2-MCM-41, were done in Fibrosarcoma tumor-bearing Sprague-Dawley rats using scarification studies and Sopha DST-XL Dual-Head SPECT system. The actual loading amount of aminopropyl groups was found about 1.6 mmol per gram of final silica. The specific activity of the final compound was found to be 3 Ci/g. Amine functionalized MCM-41 was found to be a good platform for theranostic radiopharmaceuticals such as copper-64 complexes. Considering the accumulation of the tracer in tumor cells, fast wash-out from normal tissues, the short half-life copper-64 and less imposed radiation doses to patients, [64Cu]-TPPF20@NH2-MCM-41 can potentially be a suitable candidate for tumor imaging applications and future PET studies.

Graphical abstractAmino-functionalized nano silica was labeled with radioactive Copper-porphyrin complex as effective PET(coincidence) imaging agent.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide