Metabolizer in vivo of fullerenes and metallofullerenes by positron emission tomography

Fullerenes (C-60) and metallofullerenes (Gd@C-82) have similar chemical structure, but the bio-effects of both fullerene-based materials are. distinct in vivo. Tracking. organic carbon-based materials such as C-60 and Gd@C-82 is difficult in vivo due to the high content of carbon element in the living tissues themselves. In this study, the biodistribution and metabolism of fullerenes (C-60 and Gd@C-82) radiolabeled with Cu-64 were observed by positron emission tomography (PET). Cu-64-C-60 and Cu-64-Gd@C-82 were prepared using 1, 4, 7, 10-tetrakis (carbamoylmethyl)-1, 4, 7, 10-tetra-azacyclodo-decanes grafted on. carbon cages as a. chelator for Cu-64, and were obtained rapidly with high radiochemical yield (>= 90%). The new radio-conjugates were evaluated in vivo in the normal mouse model and. tissue distribution by small animal PET/CT imaging and histology was carried out. The PET imaging, the biodistribution and the excretion of C-60 and Gd@C-82. indicated that C-60 samples have. higher blood retention and. lower renal clearance than the Gd@C-82 samples in vivo and suggested that the differences in. metabolism and distribution in vivo were caused by the structural. differences of the groups on the fullerene cages though there is chemical similarity between C-60 and Gd@C-82.