Laboratory of In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging (ICMI, BEFY-MIMA), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
Preclinical imaging, MOLECUBES NV, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Molecules. 2020 Apr 16;25(8):1838. doi: 10.3390/molecules25081838.
Since atherosclerotic plaques are small and sparse, their non-invasive detection via PET imaging requires both highly specific radiotracers as well as imaging systems with high sensitivity and resolution. This study aimed to assess the targeting and biodistribution of a novel fluorine-18 anti-VCAM-1 Nanobody (Nb), and to investigate whether sub-millimetre resolution PET imaging could improve detectability of plaques in mice. The anti-VCAM-1 Nb functionalised with the novel restrained complexing agent (RESCA) chelator was labelled with [F]AlF with a high radiochemical yield (>75%) and radiochemical purity (>99%). Subsequently, [F]AlF(RESCA)-cAbVCAM1-5 was injected in ApoE mice, or co-injected with excess of unlabelled Nb (control group). Mice were imaged sequentially using a cross-over design on two different commercially available PET/CT systems and finally sacrificed for ex vivo analysis. Both the PET/CT images and ex vivo data showed specific uptake of [F]AlF(RESCA)-cAbVCAM1-5 in atherosclerotic lesions. Non-specific bone uptake was also noticeable, most probably due to in vivo defluorination. Image analysis yielded higher target-to-heart and target-to-brain ratios with the β-CUBE (MOLECUBES) PET scanner, demonstrating that preclinical detection of atherosclerotic lesions could be improved using the latest PET technology.
由于动脉粥样硬化斑块较小且稀疏,因此通过 PET 成像进行非侵入性检测既需要高度特异性的放射性示踪剂,也需要具有高灵敏度和分辨率的成像系统。本研究旨在评估新型氟-18 抗 VCAM-1 纳米抗体(Nb)的靶向性和生物分布,并研究亚毫米分辨率 PET 成像是否可以提高小鼠斑块的检测能力。用新型约束络合试剂(RESCA)螯合剂功能化的抗 VCAM-1 Nb 与 [F]AlF 标记,具有高放射化学产率(>75%)和放射化学纯度(>99%)。随后,将 [F]AlF(RESCA)-cAbVCAM1-5 注射到 ApoE 小鼠中,或与过量未标记的 Nb(对照组)一起注射。使用两种不同的商业可用的 PET/CT 系统以交叉设计顺序对小鼠进行成像,最后进行牺牲以进行离体分析。PET/CT 图像和离体数据均显示 [F]AlF(RESCA)-cAbVCAM1-5 在动脉粥样硬化病变中的特异性摄取。由于体内脱氟作用,还可以注意到非特异性的骨骼摄取。图像分析显示,β-CUBE(MOLECUBES)PET 扫描仪的靶心比和靶脑比更高,表明使用最新的 PET 技术可以改善动脉粥样硬化病变的临床前检测。