Synthesis and evaluation of metal purine-type complexes for lung cancer imaging

Purine type compounds has been recently reported to cause the death for lung cancer cell, related to microtubules-targeting agents (MTAs). Therefore it can be used to develop as theranostic radiopharmceuticals in nuclear medicine or gadolinium-based MRI imaging agents by chelate chemistry. In the study, we tried to chemically bind a DOTA chelate on the end of purine compound and obtained a specific conjugate of DOTA-purine for metal coordination. In particular, radiometal like Cu-64, for the development of MRI imaging agents, can be utilized to choice good candidates before the synthesis of gadolinium complexes. By the screening of radioisotope technique, Gd-DOTA-purine type complex was successfully prepared and showed MRI imaging for lung cancer cell into the mouse model.