This disclosure provides a family of compounds that absorb and fluoresce in the short wave infrared region (SWIR, optionally 1000 nm to 1300 nm), including hydrophilic compounds that exhibit absorption and emission spectral profiles in aqueous solutions substantially similar to those observed in organic solvents such as methanol or DMSO. The compounds can be chemically linked to biomolecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and therapeutic small molecules. The compounds are useful for imaging in a variety of medical, biological and diagnostic applications, including SWIR in vivo imaging of regions of interest within a mammal.

Methods and composition for cell-based therapy as well as somatostatin receptor-based therapy are described. For example, in certain aspects methods for administering an anti-tumor therapy using a signaling defective somatostatin receptor mutant are described. Furthermore, the invention provides compositions and methods involve a somatostatin constitutively active somatostatin receptor mutant.

Methods and composition for cell-based therapy as well as somatostatin receptor-based therapy are described. For example, in certain aspects methods for administering an anti-tumor therapy using a signaling defective somatostatin receptor mutant are described. Furthermore, the invention provides compositions and methods involve a somatostatin constitutively active somatostatin receptor mutant.

The present invention relates to radiolabeled compounds of formula I ##STR00001##
wherein either A, B, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, is labeled with a radionuclide selected from .sup.3H, .sup.11C and .sup.18F and its use for imaging alpha synuclein and/or Abeta deposits in mammals.

6-[.sup.18F]Fluoro-2-alkoxynicotinoyl substituted Lys-C(O)-Glu derivatives were identified as efficient imaging probes for PSMA expressing tissues in comparison to other known PSMA specific ligands like [.sup.18F]DCFPyL, [.sup.68Ga]HBED-CC-PSMA, [.sup.18F]PSMA-1007 and [Al.sup.18F]HBED-CC-PSMA. Unexpectedly, the 6-[.sup.18F]fluoro-2-alkoxy and 6-[.sup.18F]fluoro-4-alkoxy substituted analogs showed significant differences in accumulation in PSMA expressing prostate tumor cells. Whereas the 2-alkoxy derivative showed cellular uptake values higher than [.sup.18F]DCFPyL, the cellular uptake of the corresponding 4-alkoxy substituted derivative was significantly lower. Furthermore, in vivo PET studies with 2-alkoxy-substituted probes demonstrated excellent visualization of PSMA positive ganglia with extremely high target to background ratio. In contrast, the 4-alkoxy substituted derivatives showed less favorable biodistribution with significantly lower uptake in PSMA positive tissues. Especially, the .sup.18F-labeled 2-methoxy derivate ((2S)-2-({[(1S)-1-carboxy-5-[(6-[.sup.18F]fluoro-2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)formamido]pentyl]carbamoyl}-amino)pentanedioic acid) demonstrated exceptional clinical efficiency in detecting small PCa lesions, including those which could not be visualized with [.sup.68Ga]HBED-CC-PSMA representing currently the gold standard for the diagnosis of recurrent PCa. Furthermore, this probe is easily accessible on a preparative scale in commercially available automated synthesis modules like GE FASTlab and TRACERlab FX N Pro. Consequently, the novel probe is a valuable tool for the visualization of ganglia and reendothelialization as well as for the diagnosis of glioma, neuropathic pain and atherosclerotic plaques.

The present invention provides a radiopharmaceutical composition comprising the following four components: (i) a radio-labelled compound; (ii) ethanol; (iii) a stabilizer of the radio-labelled compound; and (iv) a cyclodextrin.

The present invention also provides a radiopharmaceutical composition comprising: (i) a radio-labelled compound; (ii) a stabilizer of the radio-labelled compound, wherein the stabilizer comprises: ascorbic acid, aspartic acid, cysteine, maleic acid, gentisic acid, glutathione, glutamic acid, mannitol, nicotinamide, calcium chloride, N-t-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN), tartaric acid, para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA), chloride ions or salts or combinations thereof; and (iii) a cyclodextrin.

The present invention provides a novel method for the preparation of .sup.18F-fluoride (.sup.18F) for use in radiofluorination reactions. The method of the invention finds use especially in the preparation of .sup.18F-labelled positron emission tomography (PET) tracers. The method of the invention is particularly advantageous where bulk solutions are prepared and stored in prefilled vials rather than being freshly prepared on the day of synthesis. Also provided by the present invention is a radiofluorination reaction which comprises the method of the invention, as well as a cassette for use in carrying out the method of the invention and/or the radiofluorination method of the invention on an automated radiosynthesis apparatus.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for determining the renal glomerular filtration rate or assessing the renal function in a patient in need thereof. The method includes administering a pyrazine compound of Formula I to a patient and monitoring the rate in which the kidneys of the patient eliminate the pyrazine from the systemic circulation of the patient. The pyrazine compound fluoresces when exposed to electromagnetic radiation which is detected using one or more sensors. The rate in which the fluorescence decreases in the patient is used to calculate the renal glomerular filtration rate in the patient.

The present invention provides a novel radioactive compound for imaging malignant melanoma and a use thereof as a contrast agent for PET imaging.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for producing Ac-225 from Ra-226, comprising submitting Ra-226 to a photo-nuclear process, collecting an electrochemical precipitation of an Ac-225 on a cathode in a recipient, removing the cathode from the recipient after the electrochemical precipitation of the Ac-225, transferring the cathode to a hot cell environment, and extracting the Ac-225 from the cathode in the hot cell environment. The Ra-226 may comprise a liquid solution in the recipient, and submitting Ra-226 to the photo-nuclear process may comprise irradiating the Ra-226 to produce Ra-225. The Ra-225 may decay into Ac-225 upon irradiation of the Ra-226.