« Etude du comportement paramagnétique des actinides en solution avec des ligands polyaminocarboxylates cycliques »Le comportement paramagnétique des cations actinide (éléments 5f) peut être étudié via la spectroscopie RMN liquide en suivant deux axes de recherche complémentaires : les susceptibilités magnétiques et les déplacements chimiques.Dans un premier temps, lorsque les interactions entre le cation actinide et le ligand sont négligeables, la susceptibilité magnétique molaire est accessible par la méthode d’Evans. Cette méthode est applicable pour des échantillons en solution autour de la température ambiante. Elle a été confrontée à la mesure SQUID sur échantillon solide à très basses températures pour le complexe [NpO2(DPC)2Li2]. Les deux méthodes ont donné des susceptibilités magnétiques molaires du même ordre de grandeur même si ce composé n’est pas optimal pour la comparaison.La méthode d’Evans a été utilisée pour compléter les données expérimentales de la littérature. La mesure de la susceptibilité magnétique du cation PuVO2+ (5f3) en milieu non complexant a été mesurée au laboratoire. Les calculs de susceptibilités magnétiques molaires réalisés par la méthode SO-CASPT2 pour les cations actinide aux degrés d’oxydation (+IV), (+V) et (+VI) (AnIV = UIV, NpIV, PuIV et AnV/VI = NpV/VI, PuV/VI) en milieux non complexant puis complexants chlorure et nitrate ont été comparés avec les valeurs expérimentales. Les cations actinide ont montré une sensibilité à la nature et géométrie de leur première sphère de coordination. Il a été mis en évidence que le cation NpVI (5f1) possède un état fondamental sensiblement affecté par la modification de la symétrie du complexe. A partir des niveaux électroniques calculés, des premiers calculs de spectres d’absorption de ces mêmes complexes ont pu être réalisés. L’absorbance principale calculée est en bon accord avec les spectres d’absorption expérimentaux malgré un décalage systématique des spectres calculés vers le rouge, assimilable à un effet néphélauxétique.Dans un deuxième temps, l’utilisation de la Théorie de Bleaney a permis l’étude des déplacements chimiques et plus précisément, du terme de contact des complexes de symétrie C4 d’actinide au degré d’oxydation (+IV) avec le ligand DOTA (AnIV = ThIV, UIV, NpIV, PuIV). Cette contribution de contact a été accessible par la RMN de l’oxygène 17 (17O), atome directement lié au centre paramagnétique. Le DOTA a été enrichi en 17O avant la synthèse du complexe en phase organique DMSO/CHCl3. Ces complexes ont été caractérisés par spectrophotométrie UV-Visible-NIR et spectroscopie RMN 1H et 13C. Une difficulté de synthèse a été rencontrée pour le complexe de ThIV-D17OTA, composante diamagnétique nécessaire à l’extraction des termes de contact purement paramagnétiques. D’autres voies de synthèses ont été explorées.Mots Clés : Actinides, RMN, Paramagnétisme, Susceptibilité magnétique, Déplacement chimique, DOTA.2018 – Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives – Laboratoire d’interactions Ligand-Actinide – France / “Study of actinide’s paramagnetic behavior in solution with cyclic polyaminocarboxylate ligands”The actinide cation’s (5f elements) paramagnetic behavior may be studied by liquid NMR spectroscopy. Two complementary lines of research have been pursued: molar magnetic susceptibility and chemical shift.Firstly, magnetic susceptibility is easy to determine by the Evans’ method when there is no interaction between actinide cations and ligands. This method, with samples in solution at room temperature, has been compared to SQUID measurements using solid samples at very low temperatures for the [NpO2(DPC)2Li2] complex. Both methods produce molar magnetic susceptibilities with the same order of magnitude even if this compound is not the best one to the comparison.The Evans’ method has been used to complete experimental data from literature. The molar magnetic susceptibility measurement in a non-complexing medium for the PuVO2+ (5f3) cation has been measured in the laboratory. Molar magnetic susceptibility calculations were carried out using the SO-CASPT2 method for (+IV), (+V) and (+VI) actinide cations (AnIV= UIV, NpIV, PuIV and AnV/VI: NpV/VI, PuV/VI) in a non-complexing medium, then in chloride and nitrate complexing media. They have been compared with experimental values. The molar magnetic susceptibilities of actinide cations have been shown to be sensitive to the nature and geometry of their first coordination sphere. It has been revealed that the fundamental state of NpVI (5f1) cation is affected by changing the symmetry of the complex. From calculated electronic states, first absorption spectra calculations of these complexes have been carried out. A good matching between major calculated and experimental absorbances has been obtained. A red-shift was applied to the calculated absorption spectra to fit better with the experimental ones. This shift may be related to a nephelauxetic effect.Secondly, the use of Bleaney’s Theory has allowed the study of chemical shifts. And precisely, this work has been focused on the contact contribution for C4 symmetry AnIV complexed with DOTA ligand (AnIV= ThIV, UIV, NpIV, PuIV). This contact contribution is observable via NMR of oxygen-17 (17O) because oxygen atoms are directly linked to the paramagnetic cation. Therefore, the DOTA ligand was enriched in 17O before the actinide complex synthesis in a DMSO/CHCl3 organic phase. These complexes have been characterized by UV-Visible-NIR spectrophotometry and 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy. But, some synthesis difficulties have been encountered to the diamagnetic ThIV-D17OTA (5f0) complex. This diamagnetic component is required to extract pure paramagnetic contact contribution. In that case, other ways of synthesis have been investigated.Keywords: Actinides, NMR, Paramagnetism, Magnetic susceptibility, Chemical shift, DOTA ligand.2018 – Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives – Laboratoire d’interactions Ligand-Actinide – France

Introduction The effective specific activity of a radioisotope is an indirect and highly useful way to describe a radioactive sample’s purity. A high effective specific activity combines the concept of an isotopically pure product with suitability via selectivity of a particular chelating body. The primary goals of this work are twofold: 1) To determine which metallic impurities have the largest impact on the effective specific activity for a given chelator, and 2) to form a model based on the binding affinities of each metal for to calculate a ‘theoretical effective specific activ-ity’ from broad band trace metal analysis. If successful, this information can be used to guide the production of high specific activity products through the systematic elimination of high-impact metallic impurities. Material and Methods Phosphor plate thin layer chromatography (TLC) was used to measure the effective specific activ-ity of 64Cu by NOTA and DOTA, and 89Zr by des-feral (DF). Typical measured effective specific activities are 2–5 Ci/μmol for 64Cu and 1–2 Ci/μmol for 89Zr. Samples were created containing increasing cod competitive burdens (X) of CuCl2, ZnCl2, FeCl2, NiCl2, CrCl3, CoCl2, MnCl2, and YCl3. Standard concentrations were measured by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry. 50 pmol of NOTA, DOTA, or DF were added following the activity aliquots of 64Cu or 89Zr. Labeling efficien-cies (64Cu-NOTA, 64Cu-DOTA, 89Zr-DF) were measured using TLC’s, and were fit by linear regression to the form f(X) = b/(1 − AX), where A is the chelation affinity (inverse of dissociation constant) and X is the molar ratio of the metallic impurity to the amount of chelator. Results and Conclusion Affinity of Zr for DF was assumed to be unity, while the affinities of Cu for NOTA and DOTA were explicitly measured and were found to be 0.93 ± 0.13 and 5.2 ± 3.2 respectively. It was found that Cu had the highest affinity for NOTA by a factor of 266, and that Zr had the highest affinity for DF by a factor of 40. • In order of decreasing affinity to NOTA: Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, Cr, Y, and Ni • In order of decreasing affinity to DOTA: Cu, Y, Zn, Co, Ni, Cr, and Fe • In order of decreasing affinity to DF: Zr, Y, Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, Co, Cr These results suggest that aside from the carrier element it is most important to remove zinc from 64Cu products prior to chelation with NOTA and yttrium from 64Cu and 89Zr products prior to chelation with DOTA and DF, respectively. Therefore, it is logical to believe that 89Zr effective specific activities could be greatly improved by secondary separations with the goal of re-moving additional yttrium target material. Chelation affinities of NOTA, DOTA, and DF for several common metals have successfully been investigated. These values will guide our future attempts to provide high effective specific activity 64¬Cu and 89Zr. Furthermore, a preliminary model has been formed to calculate effective specific activity from the quantitative broad band analysis of trace metals. Future work will include chelator affinity measurements for other likely contaminants, such as scandium, titanium, zirconium, molybdenum, niobium, gold, gallium, and germanium. Details will be presented.

Les anions polyaminocarboxylates ont été identifiés comme des composés d'intérêt pour les opérations de séparation des actinides, dans la migration des actinides dans l'environnement et dans la radiotoxicologie humaine. La caractérisation structurale de complexes formés entre les actinides et les ligands polyaminocarboxylates est essentielle pour une meilleure compréhension des interactions actinides – ligands. Parmi les anions polyaminocarboxylates, le macrocycle DOTA (acide 1,4,7,10-tétraazacyclododécane-tétraacétique) est décrit comme un agent complexant très fort des lanthanides(III), mais a été très peu étudié avec des actinides. L'objectif de ce travail de thèse est de décrire les complexes formés entre les actinides (III) et (IV) et le ligand DOTA et de les comparer avec les complexes de lanthanides(III). Pour cela, une approche a été mise en place afin de caractériser les complexes par des techniques analytiques complémentaires (spectrophotométrie, spectrométrie de masse à ionisation par électrospray, RMN, EXAFS, électrochimie) mais également par des calculs de chimie théorique pour aider à l'interprétation des données expérimentales.La formation d'un complexe de stœchiométrie 1:1 est observée avec les actinides(III) (américium et plutonium) comme dans le cas des lanthanides(III) : il y a formation rapide d'espèces intermédiaires qui évoluent lentement vers la formation d'un complexe limite. Au sein de ce complexe, le cation se trouve à l'intérieur de la cavité formée par le macrocycle DOTA, comme dans le cas des lanthanides(III). Quatre atomes d'azote et atomes d'oxygène des fonctions carboxylates sont impliqués dans la sphère de coordination du cation. Néanmoins, des différences sont observées sur les longueurs de liaisons formées entre le cation et les atomes d'azote (les liaison sont légèrement plus courtes dans le cas des complexes d'actinides) ainsi que sur la cinétique de complexation qui est légèrement plus rapide pour les actinides(III) que pour les lanthanides(III) de rayon ionique équivalent. Le même comportement en solution est observé lors de la complexation des actinides(IV) (uranium, neptunium et plutonium) à l'exception du thorium : il y a formation lente d'un complexe de stœchiométrie 1:1 (actinides(IV):ligand) dans lequel le cation se trouve à l'intérieur de la cavité formée par le ligand, bien que la cinétique de complexation des actinides (IV) soit plus lente que celle des actinides(III). L'étude des complexes thorium(IV)-DOTA montre la présence de complexes de stœchiométrie 1:1 et 1:2 en solution, pour lesquels seules les fonctions carboxylate du ligand seraient impliquées dans la complexation.Enfin, une première estimation de la constante de stabilité des complexes plutonium(IV)-DOTA, effectuée par des mesures électrochimiques, indique que les complexes d'actinides(IV) sont environ 10 ordres de grandeurs plus stables que les complexes d'actinides(III), comme ce qui a pu être observé avec d'autres polyaminocarboxylates. / The polyaminocarboxylate anions have been identified as compounds of interest in the operations of actinide separation, in actinide migration in the environment and in human radiotoxicology. The structural characterization of complexes formed between actinides and polyaminocarboxylates ligands is essential for a better understanding of actinide-ligands interactions. Among the polyaminocarboxylate anions, the DOTA ligand (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane tetraacetic acid) is described as a very strong complexing agent of the lanthanides(III), but has been little studied with actinides. The objective of this thesis is to describe the complexes formed between the actinides (III) and (IV) and the DOTA ligand, and compare them with the lanthanide complexes. For this, an approach has been introduced to characterize the complex by complementary analytical techniques (spectrophotometry, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, NMR, EXAFS, electrochemistry), but also by calculations of theoretical chemistry to help the interpretation of the experimental data. The formation of a 1:1 complex is observed with the actinides(III) (plutonium and americium) as in the case of lanthanides(III): rapid formation of intermediate species which evolves slowly towards the formation of a limit complex. Within this complex, the cation is located inside the cavity formed by the ligand. Four nitrogen atoms and oxygen atoms from the carboxylate functions are involved in the coordination sphere of the cation. However, differences were observed in the bond lengths formed between the cation and the nitrogen atoms (the bonds are somewhat shorter in the case of actinide complexes) as well as the complexation kinetics, which is slightly faster for the actinides(III) than for lanthanide(III) ions of equivalent radius. The same behavior was observed in solution upon complexation of actinides(IV) (uranium, plutonium and neptunium): slow formation of a 1:1 complex (actinide(IV):ligand) in wherein the cation is located inside the cavity formed by the macrocycle DOTA, although the kinetics of actinide(IV) complexation is slower than for the actinides(III) complexation. Nevertheless, the study of thorium(IV)-DOTA complexes shows differences since 1:1 and 1:2 complexes in solution are detected, and where only the carboxylate functions are involved in the coordination sphere of the cation. Finally, an initial estimate of the stability constant of the plutonium(IV)-DOTA complexes by electrochemical measurements indicates that complexes of actinide(IV) are approximately 10 orders of magnitude more stable than the complex of actinides(III), as previously observed with other polyaminocarboxylate anions.

Parmi les différents isotopes du Scandium qui peuvent être utilisés en médecine nucléaire, on peut citer le ⁴⁷Sc et le ⁴⁴Sc. Le premier se désintègre en émettant un électron associé à un gamma de 159 keV et peut donc être utilisé soit pour faire de la radiothérapie, soit de l’imagerie TEMP. Le ⁴⁴Sc (3.97 h) se désintègre dans 94.27 % des cas en émettant un positron, accompagné d’un photon γ d’énergie égale à 1.157 MeV. Cet isotope est alors un candidat idéal pour des applications en imagerie TEP. Actuellement, le Cyclotron de haute énergie et haute intensité Arronax produit le ⁴⁴Sc et coproduit son état isomérique le ⁴⁴mSc (2.44 j). Le ⁴⁴mSc a des propriétés (Eᵧ=270 keV, 98.8 %) qui permet d’envisager son utilisation comme potentiel générateur in vivo. Les travaux précédents ont permis de montrer que le ligand DOTA est le plus adapté et le plus stable pour le Sc. Ce travail de thèse a pour but de mettre en évidence la faisabilité du générateur in vivo ⁴⁴m/⁴⁴Sc. Dans un premier temps une procédure a été optimisée et validée pour la production du ⁴⁴m/⁴⁴Sc avec une haute activité spécifique et pureté chimique. Le radiomarquage sur des peptides contenant du DOTA a été ensuite développé et optimisé. Des études théoriques et expérimentales ont été réalisées dans le but de démontrer la faisabilité du ⁴⁴m/⁴⁴Sc comme potentiel générateur in vivo. En fin des études de stabilité in vitro sur des complexes radiomarqués du ⁴⁴m/⁴⁴Sc suivi d’études de biodistribution et d’imagerie TEP ont été réalisées. / Among the different isotopes of Scandium that can be used in nuclear medicine may be mentioned the ⁴⁷Sc and ⁴⁴Sc. The first decays by emitting an electron associated with a 159 keV gamma can thus be used either for radiotherapy or TEMP imaging. The ⁴⁴Sc (3.97 h) decays in 94.27% in case by emitting a positron, with a γ photon energy equal to 1.157 MeV. This isotope is then an ideal candidate for applications in PET imaging. Currently, the Cyclotron of high energy and high intensity ARRONAX produce ⁴⁴Sc and co-produces the isomeric state the ⁴⁴mSc(2.44 d). The ⁴⁴mSc has properties (Eᵧ = 270 keV, 98.8%), which allows to consider its use as a potential in vivo generator. Previous work had demonstrated that the DOTA ligand is most suitable and stable for Sc. This thesis aims; make in evidence the feasibility of the in vivo ⁴⁴m/⁴⁴Sc generator. Initially a procedure was optimized and validated for the production of ⁴⁴m/⁴⁴Sc with a high specific activity and chemical purity. Radiolabeling of DOTA conjugated peptides was then developed and optimized. Theoretical and experimental studies have been performed in order to demonstrate the feasibility of ⁴⁴m/⁴⁴Sc as a potential in vivo generator. Finally, in vitro stability studies on radiolabeled ⁴⁴m / ⁴⁴Sc complexes were performed, followed by biodistribution studies and PET imaging.

La surexpression des récepteurs GRP au niveau de différents types de cancers communs offre la possibilité d'utiliser des analogues radiomarqués de la bombésine pour leur diagnostic et leur traitement. Ce travail de thèse est consacré à la conception, la synthèse et l'évaluation biologique de nouveaux radiopharmaceutiques, contenant un antagoniste des récepteurs GRP, un bras espaceur et le chélatant cyclique DOTA. Nous avons tout d'abord déterminé la longueur du bras espaceur permettant une optimisation des propriétés biologiques. Puis en se basant sur les résultats de cette étude nous avons réalisé la synthèse et l'évaluation biologique de radio-ligands constitués d'antagonistes originaux des récepteurs GRP. Ces antagonistes ont été conçus en se basant sur le composé JMV 594, un antagoniste puissant de la bombésine synthétisé dans notre laboratoire. En plus de modifications réalisées sur ce peptide, des dimères ont également été synthétisés de façon à obtenir des antagonistes plus stables et plus affins pour les récepteurs GRP. / The abundant expression of the GRP receptor in many frequently occurring cancers that inflict humans provides the opportunity to use radiolabeled bombesin analogs for their diagnosis and treatment. This postgraduate work is dedicated to the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new radiopharmaceuticals. These are made up of a GRP receptor antagonist, a spacer and the cyclic metal chelating agent DOTA. We first determined the spacer length which has optimal biological properties. Moving forward from this study, different radio-ligands containing new bombesin antagonists have been synthesized and biologically evaluated. Those antagonists are based on compound JMV 594, a powerful bombesin antagonist synthesized in our laboratory. Besides modifications of this peptide also dimers have been made to obtain more stable bombesin antagonist with more affinity to the GRP receptor.

Linfomas são cânceres que se iniciam a partir da transformação maligna de um linfócito no sistema linfático. Os linfomas são divididos em duas categorias principais: os linfomas de Hodgkin e todos os outros linfomas, denominados linfomas não-Hodgkin (LNH). Os pacientes com LNH são comumente tratados com radioterapia apenas ou combinada com quimioterapia utilizando-se de anticorpo monoclonal anti-CD20, principalmente o rituximab (MabThera&reg). O uso de anticorpos monoclonais (Acm) conjugados à quelantes bifuncionais radiomarcados com radionuclídeos metálicos ou lantanídeos é uma realidade de tratamento para portadores de LNH pelo princípio de radioimunoterapia (RIT). Este estudo concentrou-se nas condições de conjugação do anticorpo monoclonal rituximab (MabThera&reg) com grupamentos quelantes bifuncionais DOTA e DTPA. Na marcação dos Acm conjugados com lutécio-177, foram estudadas as condições de pré-purificação do Acm, condições de conjugação, determinação de número de quelantes acoplados à molécula do anticorpo, purificação do anticorpo conjugado, radiomarcação do anticorpo conjugado, com lutécio-177, purificação do anticorpo marcado, a ligação específica in vitro dos compostos marcados às células Raji, e distribuição biológica em camundongos BALB/c sadios. As três metodologias empregadas na pré-purificação do anticorpo (diálise, cromatografia de exclusão molecular com coluna Sephadex G-50 e ultrafiltração) demonstram-se eficientes e proporcionaram recuperação da amostra superior a 90%. A metodologia de ultrafiltração foi considerada a mais simples e prática, podendo ser aplicada a procedimentos rotineiros de produção de radiofármacos. Além disso, proporcionou a recuperação final de amostra de 97% em microlitros. Nas conjugações do anticorpo com os quelantes DOTA e DTPA em razões molares diferentes do Acm:quelante, observou-se número de grupamentos quelantes acoplados à molécula do Acm proporcional à razão molar estudada. Quando foi avaliada a influência de condições diferentes de conjugação no número de quelantes acoplados à molécula do Acm, não foram observadas diferenças significativas, com resultados de pureza radioquímica (PR) inferior a 80% em todas as condições estudadas. Na comparação de métodos de purificação do Acm conjugado, a abordagem inédita apresentada neste estudo, na qual a cromatografia de exclusão molecular foi combinada com a ultrafiltração resultou em maior eficiência na purificação e preservação da estrutura do anticorpo. Nos estudos de radiomarcação do anticorpo conjugado com DOTA e DTPA, os imunoconjugados de DTPA apresentaram, de forma geral, maior eficiência de marcação com resultados reprodutíveis quando comparados com os imunoconjugados de DOTA, considerando-se as diferentes razões molares utilizadas. As metodologias cromatográficas empregadas no controle de pureza radioquímica do composto radiomarcado proporcionaram a discriminação das diferentes espécies radioquímicas no meio de marcação. A metodologia de purificação do composto conjugado e radiomarcado utilizada proporcionou a obtenção de compostos com alta pureza radioquímica, 97,4&plusmn;1,3% (DOTA 1:50) e 98,7&plusmn;0,2% (DTPA 1:50). Nos estudos de ligação específica às células tumorais Raji, o anticorpo conjugado com quelante DTPA nas razões molares de 1:50 e 1:20 apresentaram perfil semelhante de ligação, com aumento da porcentagem de ligação específica proporcional à concentração celular, enquanto que o imunoconjugado na razão molar de 1:10 apresentou alta porcentagem de ligação não específica. Os resultados obtidos nos estudos de biodistribuição in vivo do anticorpo conjugado e radiomarcado nem sempre se mostraram compatíveis com a biodistribuição de anticorpos radiomarcados íntegros. No caso do quelante DOTA, o imunoconjugado obtido a partir da razão molar 1:20, apresentou melhores características de biodistribuição. No caso do quelante DTPA, a razão molar utilizada pareceu refletir diretamente no clareamento sanguíneo do anticorpo e todas as razões molares utilizadas apresentaram instabilidade in vivo. / Lymphomas are malignancies or cancers that start from the malign transformation of a lymphocyte in the lymphatic system. Lymphomas are divided in two major categories: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Patient with NHL are generally treated with radiotherapy alone or combined with immunotherapy using monoclonal antibody rituximab (MabThera&reg). Currently, monoclonal antibodies (Mab) conjugated with bifunctional chelate agents and radiolabeled with metallic or lanthanides radionuclides are a treatment reality for patients with NHL by the principle of radioimmunotherapy (RIT). This study focused on the conditions of conjugation of Acm rituximab (MabThera&reg) with bifunctional chelating agents DOTA and DTPA and labeling with 177-luthetium. Various parameters were studied: method of Acm purification, conditions of Acm conjugation and the determination of the number of chelate coupled to the Acm, the purification of the conjugated Mab, labeling conditions with lutetium-177, purification of the radiolabeled immunoconjugate, radiochemical purity (RP), in vitro specific binding determination to Raji cells (Human Burkitt) and biological distribution performed in normal BALB/c mouse. The three methodologies employed in pre-purification of Acm (dialysis, size exclusion chromatograph and ultrafiltration) demonstrated to be efficient; they provided sample recovery exceeding 90%. However, the methodology of ultrafiltration resulted in greater sample recovery and in microliters. The number of chelate attached to the Mab molecule was proportional to the molar ratio studied. When the influence of different conditions of conjugation in the number of chelate bounded to the Mab was studied, no notable differences were observed. The RP < 80% was observed in all the methods applied. Purification of the conjugated antibody by different methods showed that the innovative combination of Sephadex and ultrafiltration methods resulted in higher efficiency of purification. The optimized conditions for purification of the conjugated antibody preserved the protein integrity. Radiolabelling studies of DOTA and DTPA immunoconjugated showed that DTPA derivatives presented, in general, radiochemical yield superior than DOTA conjugated Mab, considering the different molar ratios studied. The chromatographic methods employed in the RP determination were efficient to separate the different radiochemical species presented in the reaction medium. The methodology used in the purification of the labeled Mab resulted in labeled compounds with high radiochemical purity, 97.4&plusmn;1.3% (DOTA 1:50) and 98.7&plusmn;0.2% (DTPA 1:50). Considering specific cell binding assays (Raji cells), the Mab conjugated to DTPA at 1:50 and 1:20 molar ratios presented similar results, and the percent of cell binding were proportional to the cell concentration, whereas the cell binding for 1:10 molar ratio showed high percent of nonspecific cell binding. The results of in vivo biodistribution studies of labeled Mab not always were compatible with the biodistribution of intact radiolabelled antibody. The DOTA immunoconjugated produced at 1:20 molar ratio, showed better performance in biodistribution studies. In the case of DTPA immunoconjugated, the blood clearance seems to be influenced by the molar ratio applied and the immunoconjugated produced with DTPA chelate at different molar ratio resulted in high in vivo instability compounds.

Linfomas são cânceres que se iniciam a partir da transformação maligna de um linfócito no sistema linfático. Os linfomas são divididos em duas categorias principais: os linfomas de Hodgkin e todos os outros linfomas, denominados linfomas não-Hodgkin (LNH). Os pacientes com LNH são comumente tratados com radioterapia apenas ou combinada com quimioterapia utilizando-se de anticorpo monoclonal anti-CD20, principalmente o rituximab (MabThera&reg). O uso de anticorpos monoclonais (Acm) conjugados à quelantes bifuncionais radiomarcados com radionuclídeos metálicos ou lantanídeos é uma realidade de tratamento para portadores de LNH pelo princípio de radioimunoterapia (RIT). Este estudo concentrou-se nas condições de conjugação do anticorpo monoclonal rituximab (MabThera&reg) com grupamentos quelantes bifuncionais DOTA e DTPA. Na marcação dos Acm conjugados com lutécio-177, foram estudadas as condições de pré-purificação do Acm, condições de conjugação, determinação de número de quelantes acoplados à molécula do anticorpo, purificação do anticorpo conjugado, radiomarcação do anticorpo conjugado, com lutécio-177, purificação do anticorpo marcado, a ligação específica in vitro dos compostos marcados às células Raji, e distribuição biológica em camundongos BALB/c sadios. As três metodologias empregadas na pré-purificação do anticorpo (diálise, cromatografia de exclusão molecular com coluna Sephadex G-50 e ultrafiltração) demonstram-se eficientes e proporcionaram recuperação da amostra superior a 90%. A metodologia de ultrafiltração foi considerada a mais simples e prática, podendo ser aplicada a procedimentos rotineiros de produção de radiofármacos. Além disso, proporcionou a recuperação final de amostra de 97% em microlitros. Nas conjugações do anticorpo com os quelantes DOTA e DTPA em razões molares diferentes do Acm:quelante, observou-se número de grupamentos quelantes acoplados à molécula do Acm proporcional à razão molar estudada. Quando foi avaliada a influência de condições diferentes de conjugação no número de quelantes acoplados à molécula do Acm, não foram observadas diferenças significativas, com resultados de pureza radioquímica (PR) inferior a 80% em todas as condições estudadas. Na comparação de métodos de purificação do Acm conjugado, a abordagem inédita apresentada neste estudo, na qual a cromatografia de exclusão molecular foi combinada com a ultrafiltração resultou em maior eficiência na purificação e preservação da estrutura do anticorpo. Nos estudos de radiomarcação do anticorpo conjugado com DOTA e DTPA, os imunoconjugados de DTPA apresentaram, de forma geral, maior eficiência de marcação com resultados reprodutíveis quando comparados com os imunoconjugados de DOTA, considerando-se as diferentes razões molares utilizadas. As metodologias cromatográficas empregadas no controle de pureza radioquímica do composto radiomarcado proporcionaram a discriminação das diferentes espécies radioquímicas no meio de marcação. A metodologia de purificação do composto conjugado e radiomarcado utilizada proporcionou a obtenção de compostos com alta pureza radioquímica, 97,4&plusmn;1,3% (DOTA 1:50) e 98,7&plusmn;0,2% (DTPA 1:50). Nos estudos de ligação específica às células tumorais Raji, o anticorpo conjugado com quelante DTPA nas razões molares de 1:50 e 1:20 apresentaram perfil semelhante de ligação, com aumento da porcentagem de ligação específica proporcional à concentração celular, enquanto que o imunoconjugado na razão molar de 1:10 apresentou alta porcentagem de ligação não específica. Os resultados obtidos nos estudos de biodistribuição in vivo do anticorpo conjugado e radiomarcado nem sempre se mostraram compatíveis com a biodistribuição de anticorpos radiomarcados íntegros. No caso do quelante DOTA, o imunoconjugado obtido a partir da razão molar 1:20, apresentou melhores características de biodistribuição. No caso do quelante DTPA, a razão molar utilizada pareceu refletir diretamente no clareamento sanguíneo do anticorpo e todas as razões molares utilizadas apresentaram instabilidade in vivo. / Lymphomas are malignancies or cancers that start from the malign transformation of a lymphocyte in the lymphatic system. Lymphomas are divided in two major categories: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Patient with NHL are generally treated with radiotherapy alone or combined with immunotherapy using monoclonal antibody rituximab (MabThera&reg). Currently, monoclonal antibodies (Mab) conjugated with bifunctional chelate agents and radiolabeled with metallic or lanthanides radionuclides are a treatment reality for patients with NHL by the principle of radioimmunotherapy (RIT). This study focused on the conditions of conjugation of Acm rituximab (MabThera&reg) with bifunctional chelating agents DOTA and DTPA and labeling with 177-luthetium. Various parameters were studied: method of Acm purification, conditions of Acm conjugation and the determination of the number of chelate coupled to the Acm, the purification of the conjugated Mab, labeling conditions with lutetium-177, purification of the radiolabeled immunoconjugate, radiochemical purity (RP), in vitro specific binding determination to Raji cells (Human Burkitt) and biological distribution performed in normal BALB/c mouse. The three methodologies employed in pre-purification of Acm (dialysis, size exclusion chromatograph and ultrafiltration) demonstrated to be efficient; they provided sample recovery exceeding 90%. However, the methodology of ultrafiltration resulted in greater sample recovery and in microliters. The number of chelate attached to the Mab molecule was proportional to the molar ratio studied. When the influence of different conditions of conjugation in the number of chelate bounded to the Mab was studied, no notable differences were observed. The RP < 80% was observed in all the methods applied. Purification of the conjugated antibody by different methods showed that the innovative combination of Sephadex and ultrafiltration methods resulted in higher efficiency of purification. The optimized conditions for purification of the conjugated antibody preserved the protein integrity. Radiolabelling studies of DOTA and DTPA immunoconjugated showed that DTPA derivatives presented, in general, radiochemical yield superior than DOTA conjugated Mab, considering the different molar ratios studied. The chromatographic methods employed in the RP determination were efficient to separate the different radiochemical species presented in the reaction medium. The methodology used in the purification of the labeled Mab resulted in labeled compounds with high radiochemical purity, 97.4&plusmn;1.3% (DOTA 1:50) and 98.7&plusmn;0.2% (DTPA 1:50). Considering specific cell binding assays (Raji cells), the Mab conjugated to DTPA at 1:50 and 1:20 molar ratios presented similar results, and the percent of cell binding were proportional to the cell concentration, whereas the cell binding for 1:10 molar ratio showed high percent of nonspecific cell binding. The results of in vivo biodistribution studies of labeled Mab not always were compatible with the biodistribution of intact radiolabelled antibody. The DOTA immunoconjugated produced at 1:20 molar ratio, showed better performance in biodistribution studies. In the case of DTPA immunoconjugated, the blood clearance seems to be influenced by the molar ratio applied and the immunoconjugated produced with DTPA chelate at different molar ratio resulted in high in vivo instability compounds.

La surexpression de récepteurs couplés aux protéines G (RCPG) dans certains cancers est mise à profit en médecine nucléaire pour développer des radioligands capables de diagnostiquer la présence de tumeurs. A titre d’exemple, des analogues de la somatostatine marqués à l’indium-111 (111In-OctreoScan) sont utilisés pour le diagnostic de tumeurs neuroendocrines. L’urotensine II (UII), qui présente des homologies structurales avec la somatostatine, est considérée comme le neuropeptide vasoactif le plus puissant découvert à ce jour. L’UII interagit avec un unique RCPG de très haute affinité appelé UT, classiquement couplé à la voie Gαq/PLC/IP3/Ca2+. L’UII exerce notamment des activités pro-mitotiques et chémoattractantes et une expression élevée de l'UT a été rapportée dans plusieurs types de tumeurs solides humaines provenant des poumons, de l'intestin, de la prostate ou du sein. Ces données suggèrent que l'UT pourrait être une cible prometteuse pour concevoir des analogues urotensinergiques radiomarqués à finalités diagnostiques voire thérapeutiques. Deux analogues urotensinergiques capables de lier des isotopes radioactifs (le DOTA-UII et le DOTA-urantide) ont été synthétisés et radiomarqués avec succès avec l’111In. L'incubation de l’111In-DOTA-UII dans du plasma humain a révélé que seulement 30% du radioligand étaient dégradés après 3 heures d’incubation. L'administration de concentrations croissantes de DOTA-UII et de DOTA-urantide sur des cellules HEK-293 exprimant l'UT induit une augmentation dose-dépendante de la concentration cytosolique de calcium, avec une puissance et une efficacité similaires à celles obtenues avec l'UII (EC50: 1,26 10-8 M et 2,09 10-8 M, UII et DOTA-UII, respectivement) et urantide (EC50: 1,82 10-8 M et 1,52 10-8 M, urantide et DOTA-urantide, respectivement). Alors que la fixation sur l’UT du DOTA-UII ou l’UII entraîne l'internalisation du complexe ligand-récepteur (ELISA et immunocytochimie) dans les cellules HEK-293 exprimant l'UT, l’urantide et le DOTA-urantide restent inactifs. L'injection intraveineuse de l’111In-DOTA-UII chez des souris C57BL/6 a révélé un léger signal principalement restreint dans les reins, indiquant une clairance rapide du peptide. Des résultats similaires ont été obtenus avec des souris dont le gène codant l’UT a été invalidé (mUTS2R-/-) ou des souris exprimant constitutivement la forme humaine de l’UT (mUTS2R-/- hUTS2R+/+). Enfin, l’111In-DOTA-UII a été injecté chez des souris Nudes porteuses de xénogreffes hétérotopiques de cellules humaines A549 (adénocarcinome pulmonaire) ou DLD-1 (adénocarcinome colorectal), exprimant fonctionnellement l’UT, comme nous l’avons préalablement vérifié par analyses western blot, par immunohistochimie et par des tests de migration/prolifération cellulaire. Dans les deux cas, l'imagerie TEMP/TDM n'a toutefois pas révélé de signal exploitable dans les tumeurs, suggérant que la clairance du radioligand est trop importante pour permettre l'accumulation du radiotraceur et la détection des tumeurs. L’ensemble de nos résultats démontre que la conjugaison de DOTA dans les analogues urotensinergiques n'altère pas l'activation de l'UT. Cependant, d'autres investigations sont nécessaires pour diminuer la clairance rénale et améliorer l'imagerie tumorale et ainsi permettre, à terme, de concevoir des radioligands urotensinergiques à finalités diagnostiques voire théranostiques. / Overexpression of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in tumor is widely used to develop GPCR-targeting radioligands for solid tumor imaging. For example, somatostatin analogue labeled with 111Indium (111In-OctreoScan) is used for the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors. The vasoactive neuropeptide urotensin II (UII), which shares structural analogies with somatostatin, interacts with a single high affinity GPCR named UT. High expression of UT has been reported in several types of human solid tumors from lung, gut, prostate or breast, suggesting that UT is a valuable target to design radiolabeled UII analogues for cancer diagnosis. Two urotensinergic analogues (DOTA-UII and DOTA-urantide) both containing the DOTA chelating group capable of complexing radioactive metal isotopes have been synthetized and radiolabeled with 111Indium. Incubation of 111In-DOTA-UII in human plasma revealed that only 30% of the radioligand was degraded after a 3h incubation period. Administration of graded concentrations of both DOTA-UII and DOTA-urantide in the vicinity of HEK293 cells expressing UT induced a dose-dependent increase in cytosolic calcium concentration, with similar potency and efficacy to that obtained with UII and urantide. These results demonstrated that conjugation of DOTA in urotensinergic analogues did not affect UT activation. DOTA-UII was also able to promote UT internalization in HEK293 cells expressing UT, while DOTA-urantide was ineffective. Intravenous injection of 111In-DOTA-UII in C57BL/6 mice revealed a slight signal mostly restricted in kidney, and similar results were obtained with knock-out mice or constitutively expressing human UT mice. Finally, 111In-DOTA-UII was injected into nude mice bearing heterotopic xenografts of human A549 cells (lung adenocarcinoma) or DLD-1 cells (colorectal adenocarcinoma) both expressing functional UT. In both cases, SPECT-CT imaging showed the absence of tumor uptake and significant renal and bladder uptakes, suggesting fast tracer clearance from the organism. However, further investigations will be necessary to decrease renal clearance and to improve tumor imaging.

Introduction The effective specific activity of a radioisotope is an indirect and highly useful way to describe a radioactive sample’s purity. A high effective specific activity combines the concept of an isotopically pure product with suitability via selectivity of a particular chelating body. The primary goals of this work are twofold: 1) To determine which metallic impurities have the largest impact on the effective specific activity for a given chelator, and 2) to form a model based on the binding affinities of each metal for to calculate a ‘theoretical effective specific activ-ity’ from broad band trace metal analysis. If successful, this information can be used to guide the production of high specific activity products through the systematic elimination of high-impact metallic impurities. Material and Methods Phosphor plate thin layer chromatography (TLC) was used to measure the effective specific activ-ity of 64Cu by NOTA and DOTA, and 89Zr by des-feral (DF). Typical measured effective specific activities are 2–5 Ci/μmol for 64Cu and 1–2 Ci/μmol for 89Zr. Samples were created containing increasing cod competitive burdens (X) of CuCl2, ZnCl2, FeCl2, NiCl2, CrCl3, CoCl2, MnCl2, and YCl3. Standard concentrations were measured by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry. 50 pmol of NOTA, DOTA, or DF were added following the activity aliquots of 64Cu or 89Zr. Labeling efficien-cies (64Cu-NOTA, 64Cu-DOTA, 89Zr-DF) were measured using TLC’s, and were fit by linear regression to the form f(X) = b/(1 − AX), where A is the chelation affinity (inverse of dissociation constant) and X is the molar ratio of the metallic impurity to the amount of chelator. Results and Conclusion Affinity of Zr for DF was assumed to be unity, while the affinities of Cu for NOTA and DOTA were explicitly measured and were found to be 0.93 ± 0.13 and 5.2 ± 3.2 respectively. It was found that Cu had the highest affinity for NOTA by a factor of 266, and that Zr had the highest affinity for DF by a factor of 40. • In order of decreasing affinity to NOTA: Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, Cr, Y, and Ni • In order of decreasing affinity to DOTA: Cu, Y, Zn, Co, Ni, Cr, and Fe • In order of decreasing affinity to DF: Zr, Y, Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, Co, Cr These results suggest that aside from the carrier element it is most important to remove zinc from 64Cu products prior to chelation with NOTA and yttrium from 64Cu and 89Zr products prior to chelation with DOTA and DF, respectively. Therefore, it is logical to believe that 89Zr effective specific activities could be greatly improved by secondary separations with the goal of re-moving additional yttrium target material. Chelation affinities of NOTA, DOTA, and DF for several common metals have successfully been investigated. These values will guide our future attempts to provide high effective specific activity 64¬Cu and 89Zr. Furthermore, a preliminary model has been formed to calculate effective specific activity from the quantitative broad band analysis of trace metals. Future work will include chelator affinity measurements for other likely contaminants, such as scandium, titanium, zirconium, molybdenum, niobium, gold, gallium, and germanium. Details will be presented.

Cancer remains one of the most feared diseases affecting the modern world. Second to heart disease, it is the largest cause of deaths, affecting one in three persons. Cancer cells are formed when normal, healthy cells become damage, losing their normal regulatory mechanism that control cell growth. There are many different types and progression of these cancer cells that determine the type of treatment a patient receives. The primary focus of this dissertation is to propose three studies of anticancer agents. In Chapter one, a CpG-lytic peptide conjugate was designed to target receptors on the cell membrane to concentrate the lytic peptide around the cells to cause triggered cell death, in the treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). This conjugate act like monoclonal antibodies in that the molecular size is too large to enter the cell, therefore it targets the TLR9 receptors expressed extracellularly in precancer cells in MDS. Chapter two, focuses on the screening of anticancer agents used in targeted therapy. It provides a general scheme applied to the synthesis of a combinatorial library of primary amines used as small-molecule drugs coupled unto a solid support bead (Positional Scanning Library Method) to screen for biological effects on various types of cancers. Chapter three address the issue of radiotherapy treatments, one of the most widely used treatment of cancer. To improve the efficacy of conventional radiation therapy and reduce the cytotoxicity of healthy tissue, High-Dose Rate brachytherapy (HDR) may be used as a stand-alone treatment or after surgery to prevent the recurrence of cancer cells. To design and provide studies of these brachytherapy beads, a model was developed by coupling a chelating agent DOTA onto the surface of macrobeads that coordinated to Europium (III) in efforts to mimic the radiolabeling with a radioactive metal. These brachytherapy beads will be used to conduct in vitro studies in the treatment of local cancers with massive concentrations of radiation without damaging surrounding healthy tissue.