Evaluation of an integrin αvβ6-specific peptide labeled with [18F]fluorine by copper-free, strain-promoted click chemistry

IntroductionClick chemistry, particularly the Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an alkyne with an azide, has quickly become popular for site-specific radiolabeling. Recently, strain-promoted click chemistries have been developed, eliminating the need for potentially toxic copper catalysts. This study presents radiolabeling of an αvβ6 integrin targeting peptide (A20FMDV2) via strain-promoted click using a fluorine-18 prosthetic group, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation.MethodsThe radiotracer [18F]FBA-C6-ADIBON3-PEG7-A20FMDV2 (1) was prepared from [18F]FBA-C6-ADIBO (2) and N3-PEG7-A20FMDV2 (ethanol; 10 min; 35–45 °C). HPLC-purified and formulated radiotracer 1 was evaluated in vitro by cell binding (DX3puroβ6, αvβ6-positive; and DX3puro, αvβ6-negative control) and serum stability, and in vivo using PET/CT imaging and biodistribution studies in mice.ResultsThe radiotracer 1 was readily prepared and purified (from 2: 40 ± 4 min including HPLC, 11.9 ± 3.2% decay corrected isolated radiochemical yield, > 99% radiochemical purity, n = 4) and displayed good stability (1 h: > 99%, saline; 94.6%, serum). Strong αvβ6-targeted binding was observed in vitro (DX3puroβ6 cells, 15 min: 43.2% binding, > 6:1 for DX3puroβ6:DX3puro). In the mouse model DX3puroβ6-tumor binding was low (1 h: 0.47 ± 0.28% ID/g, 4 h: 0.14 ± 0.09% ID/g) and clearing from the bloodstream was via the renal and hepatobiliary routes (urine: 167 ± 84% ID/g at 1 h, 10.3 ± 4.8% ID/g at 4 h; gall bladder: 95 ± 33% ID/g at 1 h, 63 ± 11% ID/g at 4 h).ConclusionCopper-free, strain-promoted click chemistry is an attractive, straightforward approach to radiolabeling. Although the [18F]FBA-C6-ADBIO-based prosthetic group did not interfere with αvβ6-targeted binding in vitro, it did influence the pharmacokinetics, possibly due to its size and lipophilic nature.