TY - JOUR

T1 - Trans-Cyclooctene-Functionalized PeptoBrushes with Improved Reaction Kinetics of the Tetrazine Ligation for Pretargeted Nuclear Imaging

AU - Stéen, E Johanna L

AU - Jørgensen, Jesper T

AU - Johann, Kerstin

AU - Norregaard, Kamilla

AU - Sohr, Barbara

AU - Svatunek, Dennis

AU - Birke, Alexander

AU - Shalgunov, Vladimir

AU - Edem, Patricia E

AU - Rossin, Raffaella

AU - Seidl, Christine

AU - Schmid, Friederike

AU - Robillard, Marc S

AU - Kristensen, Jesper L

AU - Mikula, Hannes

AU - Barz, Matthias

AU - Kjaer, Andreas

AU - Herth, Matthias M

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Tumor targeting using agents with slow pharmacokinetics represents a major challenge in nuclear imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy as they most often result in low imaging contrast and high radiation dose to healthy tissue. To address this challenge, we developed a polymer-based targeting agent that can be used for pretargeted imaging and thus separates tumor accumulation from the imaging step in time. The developed targeting agent is based on polypeptide-graft-polypeptoid polymers (PeptoBrushes) functionalized with trans-cyclooctene (TCO). The complementary 111In-labeled imaging agent is a 1,2,4,5-tetrazine derivative, which can react with aforementioned TCO-modified PeptoBrushes in a rapid bioorthogonal ligation. A high degree of TCO-loading (up to 30%) was achieved, without altering the physicochemical properties of the polymeric nanoparticle. The highest degree of TCO-loading resulted in significantly increased reaction rates (77-fold enhancement) compared to small molecule TCO moieties when using lipophilic tetrazines. Based on computer simulations, we hypothesize that this increase is a result of hydrophobic effects and significant rearrangements within the polymer framework, in which hydrophobic patches of TCO moieties are formed. These patches attract lipophilic tetrazines leading to increased reaction rates in the bioorthogonal ligation. The most reactive system was evaluated as a targeting agent for pretargeted imaging in tumor-bearing mice. After optimizing the set-up, sufficient tumor-to-background ratios were achieved as early as 2 h after administration of the tetrazine imaging agent, which further improved at 22 h enabling clear visualization of CT-26 tumors. These findings show the potential of PeptoBrushes to be used as a pretargeting agent when an optimized dose of polymer is used.

AB - Tumor targeting using agents with slow pharmacokinetics represents a major challenge in nuclear imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy as they most often result in low imaging contrast and high radiation dose to healthy tissue. To address this challenge, we developed a polymer-based targeting agent that can be used for pretargeted imaging and thus separates tumor accumulation from the imaging step in time. The developed targeting agent is based on polypeptide-graft-polypeptoid polymers (PeptoBrushes) functionalized with trans-cyclooctene (TCO). The complementary 111In-labeled imaging agent is a 1,2,4,5-tetrazine derivative, which can react with aforementioned TCO-modified PeptoBrushes in a rapid bioorthogonal ligation. A high degree of TCO-loading (up to 30%) was achieved, without altering the physicochemical properties of the polymeric nanoparticle. The highest degree of TCO-loading resulted in significantly increased reaction rates (77-fold enhancement) compared to small molecule TCO moieties when using lipophilic tetrazines. Based on computer simulations, we hypothesize that this increase is a result of hydrophobic effects and significant rearrangements within the polymer framework, in which hydrophobic patches of TCO moieties are formed. These patches attract lipophilic tetrazines leading to increased reaction rates in the bioorthogonal ligation. The most reactive system was evaluated as a targeting agent for pretargeted imaging in tumor-bearing mice. After optimizing the set-up, sufficient tumor-to-background ratios were achieved as early as 2 h after administration of the tetrazine imaging agent, which further improved at 22 h enabling clear visualization of CT-26 tumors. These findings show the potential of PeptoBrushes to be used as a pretargeting agent when an optimized dose of polymer is used.

U2 - 10.1021/acsnano.9b06905

DO - 10.1021/acsnano.9b06905

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31820928

VL - 14

SP - 568

EP - 584

JO - A C S Nano

JF - A C S Nano

SN - 1936-0851

IS - 1

ER -