Recent Advances in Zirconium-89 Chelator Development

• Main Authors: Nikunj B. Bhatt, Darpan N. Pandya, Thaddeus J. Wadas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-03-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: zirconium-89; chelator; positron emission tomography
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/23/3/638

The interest in zirconium-89 (89Zr) as a positron-emitting radionuclide has grown considerably over the last decade due to its standardized production, long half-life of 78.2 h, favorable decay characteristics for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and its successful use in a variety of clinical and preclinical applications. However, to be utilized effectively in PET applications it must be stably bound to a targeting ligand, and the most successfully used 89Zr chelator is desferrioxamine B (DFO), which is commercially available as the iron chelator Desferal®. Despite the prevalence of DFO in 89Zr-immuno-PET applications, the development of new ligands for this radiometal is an active area of research. This review focuses on recent advances in zirconium-89 chelation chemistry and will highlight the rapidly expanding ligand classes that are under investigation as DFO alternatives.