Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Low Molecular Weight Fluorescent Imaging Agents for the Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen

摘要

Targeted near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging can be used in vivo to detect specific tissues, including malignant cells. A series of NIR fluorescent ligands targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) was synthesized and each compound was tested for its ability to image PSMA+ tissues in experimental models of prostate cancer. The agents were prepared by conjugating commercially available active esters of NIR dyes, including IRDye800CW, IRDye800RS, Cy5.5, Cy7, or a derivative of indocyanine green (ICG) to the terminal amine group of (S)-2-(3-((S)-5-amino-1-carboxypentyl)ureido)pentanedioic acid >1, (14S,18S)-1-amino-8,16-dioxo-3,6-dioxa-9,15,17-triazaicosane-14,18,20-tricarboxylic acid >2 and (3S,7S)-26-amino-5,13,20-trioxo-4,6,12,21-tetraaza-hexacosane-1,3,7,22-tetracarboxylic acid >3. The >Ki values for the dye-inhibitor conjugates ranged from 1 to 700 pM. All compounds proved capable of imaging PSMA+ tumors selectively to varying degrees depending on the choice of fluorophore and linker. The highest tumor uptake was observed with IRDye800CW employing a poly(ethylene glycol) or lysine-suberate linker, as in 800CW->2 and 800CW->3, while the highest tumor to nontarget tissue ratios were obtained for Cy7 with these same linkers, as in Cy7->2 and Cy7->3. Compounds >2 and >3 provide useful scaffolds for targeting of PSMA+ tissues in vivo and should be useful for preparing NIR dye conjugates designed specifically for clinical intraoperative optical imaging devices.