Stabilized compositions and methods for radiolabeling pharmaceuticals with alpha-particle emitters

Abstract

Oxidants (e.g., N-chlorosuccinimide) can be used to stabilize α-particle emitters (e.g.,At) in solution, prior to their subsequent reaction to form α-particle emitter labeled compounds (e.g., a radiolabeled pharmaceutical or a radiolabeled pre-cursor used to prepare it). In particular, the use of an oxidant has been found to maintain the α-particle emitter in a chemical form that facilitates this reaction, which may involve a number of possible mechanisms including electrophilic substitution, nucleophilic substitution, complexation, exchange, or metallic bonding. Compounds labeled with α-particle emitters in this manner have wide-ranging therapeutic applications, particularly in the treatment of cancer.