Format

Send to

Choose Destination
PLoS One. 2014 Sep 22;9(9):e107951. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107951. eCollection 2014.

Investigation of 6-[¹⁸F]-fluoromaltose as a novel PET tracer for imaging bacterial infection.

Author information

1
Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America.
2
Sanofi R&D, Sanofi, Paris, France.
3
Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America.
4
Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America; Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America.

Abstract

Despite advances in the field of nuclear medicine, the imaging of bacterial infections has remained a challenge. The existing reagents suffer from poor sensitivity and specificity. In this study we investigate the potential of a novel PET (positron emission tomography) tracer that overcomes these limitations.

METHODS:

6-[¹⁸F]-fluoromaltose was synthesized. Its behavior in vitro was evaluated in bacterial and mammalian cultures. Detailed pharmacokinetic and biodistribution profiles for the tracer were obtained from a murine model.

RESULTS:

6-[¹⁸F]-fluoromaltose is taken up by multiple strains of pathogenic bacteria. It is not taken up by mammalian cancer cell lines. 6-[¹⁸F]-fluoromaltose is retained in infected muscles in a murine model of bacterial myositis. It does not accumulate in inflamed tissue.

CONCLUSION:

We have shown that 6-[¹⁸F]-fluoromaltose can be used to image bacterial infection in vivo with high specificity. We believe that this class of agents will have a significant impact on the clinical management of patients.

PMID:
25243851
PMCID:
PMC4171493
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0107951
[Indexed for MEDLINE]
Free PMC Article

Supplemental Content

Full text links

Icon for Public Library of Science Icon for PubMed Central
Loading ...
Support Center