Radiocopper for the imaging of copper metabolism

The redox‐active transition metal copper is an essential trace element for growth and development and serves as a structural or catalytic cofactor for many enzymes in a range of physiological processes. Mammalian copper homeostasis is tightly regulated, and an imbalance in copper metabolism is implicated in various pathological disorders. Radioactive copper isotopes, in particular 64 Cu ( t 1/2  = 12.7 h) and 67 Cu ( t 1/2  = 62.01 h), have made important contributions to the understanding of copper metabolism in health and disease. This review gives a brief account of how radiolabelled copper(II) salts and bioreductive copper complexes have been used to trace copper uptake, transport and efflux in vitro and in vivo . Recently, positron emission tomography (PET) has emerged as a noninvasive tool to image copper metabolism in living subjects and 64 Cu‐PET is investigated for the study of copper‐related neurological disorders, genetic diseases and cancer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.