Single-Chain antibody conjugated to a cage amine chelator and labeled with positron-emitting copper-64 for diagnostic imaging of activated platelets

Imaging of activated platelets using an activation specific anti-GPIIb/IIIa integrin single-chain antibody (scFvanti-LIBS) conjugated to a positron emitting copper-64 complex of a cage amine sarcophagine chelator (MeCOSar) is reported. This tracer was compared in vitro to a 64CuII complex of the scFv conjugated to another commonly used macrocycle, DOTA. The scFvanti-LIBS-MeCOSar conjugate was radiolabeled with 64CuII rapidly under mild conditions and with higher specific activity than scFvanti-LIBS-DOTA. The utility of scFvanti-LIBS-MeCOSar as a diagnostic agent was assessed in vivo in a mouse model of acute thrombosis. The uptake of scFvanti-LIBS-64CuMeCOSar in the injured vessel was significantly higher than the noninjured vessel. Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to show accumulation of scFvanti-LIBS-64CuMeCOSar with high and specific uptake in the injured vessel. ScFvanti-LIBS-64CuMeCOSar is an excellent tool for highly sensitive in vivo detection of activated platelets in PET and has the potential to be used for early diagnosis of acute thrombotic events.