A novel radiolabelled salmochelin derivative for bacteria-specific PET imaging: synthesis, radiolabelling and evaluation

For specific imaging of bacterial infections we aimed at targeting the exclusive bacterial iron transport system via siderophore-based radiotracers. De novo synthesis and radiolabeling yielded the salmochelin-based PET radiotracer [68Ga]Ga-RMA693, which showed a favourable biodistribution and a bacteria-specific uptake in an animal model of Escherichia coli infection. A 68Ga-labelled salmochelin-related PET-radiotracer was developed based on a Trojan horse strategy by targeting the siderophore mediated iron-transport for specific imaging of bacterial infection.