Fluorine-18 capture by substituted BODIPY derivatives

For the medical community to effectively decrease the number of deaths caused by cancer each year, we must develop tools that allow for the early detection of biological abnormalities. Earlier detection is key to increasing the survival rate among cancer patients. A major tool currently used by the medical community is molecular imaging. However, the scope of molecular imaging is limited, so new molecular imaging agents must be developed. One the most ubiquitous biological molecules are peptides, and changes in peptide expression has been associated with cancer. However, molecular imaging does not presently have the tools required to monitor the entire class of peptides. In order to increase the scope of molecular imaging in regard to peptides, we have endeavored to create a new class of peptide imaging agents based on the BODIPY fluorophore. To date, we have demonstrated the ability of this scaffold to work effectively as an imaging agent in mouse models. These dyes are lipophilic in vivo so newer generations of this scaffold will have to address these concerns.