Evaluation of the Tetrakis(3-Hydroxy-4-Pyridinone) Ligand THPN with Zirconium(IV): Thermodynamic Solution Studies, Bifunctionalization, and in Vivo Assessment of Macromolecular 89Zr-THPN-Conjugates.

Zirconium-89 (89Zr) is a suitable radionuclide for positron-emission tomography (PET) of long-circulating targeting vectors such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Due to stability concerns for the most widely used 89Zr-chelating agent desferrioxamine B (DFO) in preclinical studies, alternative 89Zr-chelators are currently being developed. We recently reported on the first tetrakis(3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone) (3,4-HOPO) ligand THPN, which was identified as a promising 89Zr-chelator. In this study, we aimed to further explore this octadentate chelate in vitro and in vivo. The [ZrIV(THPN)] thermodynamic stability was quantified in solution titration studies, which revealed one of the highest formation constants reported for a zirconium chelate (log βML 50.3(1), pM = 42.8). Solution stabilities with iron(III) were also exceptionally high and can compete with some of the strongest FeIII-chelates. A first bifunctional derivative of the octadentate ligand, p-SCN-Bn-THPN, was then produced in a multistep synthesis. To assess and compare the long-term 89Zr complex stability, bifunctional THPN, as well as the literature chelators p-SCN-Phe-DFO and p-SCN-Phe-DFO*, were conjugated to the high-molecular weight (800 kDa) polymeric carrier hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG). The functionalized HPGs were radiolabeled with 89ZrIV, and the integrity of the radioconjugates was assessed over several days in vitro and in vivo. While all three radioconjugates remained >95% intact over 5 days in human plasma, the in vivo study in healthy mice revealed higher physiologic stability of the DFO and DFO* radiochelates over bifunctional THPN conjugates. This was evidenced by increased bone uptake of osteophilic 89ZrIV for THPN. This finding contrasts with the exceptionally high thermodynamic stability of the chelate and suggests either a kinetic or metabolic lability, or may stem from coordinative changes due to the covalent conjugation of the 89Zr-THPN radiochelate as suggested by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. These important findings inform the design of next generation 3,4-HOPO chelates with the aim of improving the physiologic stability. This study furthermore demonstrates how HPG can be used as a robust carrier tool to assess and compare the long-term in vivo stability of radiochelates.