A novel glucose derivative (CN7DG) possessing an isonitrile as a coordinating group was synthesized, and 99mTc-CN7DG, which was expected to be a powerful tumor imaging agent for SPECT, was prepared in a kit by the reaction of CN7DG with SnCl2·2H2O and 99mTcO4-. 99mTc-CN7DG exhibited good stability and was transported via glucose transporters. Biodistribution results in mice bearing A549 tumor models showed that 99mTc-CN7DG had a higher uptake at the tumor sites and better tumor/blood and tumor/muscle ratios than did [18F]FDG and 99mTc-CN5DG. SPECT/CT imaging studies showed obvious accumulation in tumor sites, suggesting that 99mTc-CN7DG is a promising candidate for tumor imaging. Because 99mTc and 188Re stand for a "theranostic pair", 188Re-CN7DG is expected to be prepared as a promising agent for tumor therapy.
Keywords: 99mTc; cancer; glucose derivatives; imaging agents; isocyanide ligands.