Over the last two decades the radioisotope zirconium-89 (89Zr) has emerged as highly suitable component of nuclear imaging agents used in positron-emission tomography owing to the relatively long radiolytic half-life (78.41 h) that matches the biological half-life of many polymeric species.1 Novel 89Zr chelating polymers were synthesised by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerisation of a new ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) mimicking monomer bearing two carboxylic acids bridged by a tertiary amine group (Figure 1A).2 The monomer presented is accessible in a simple two step strategy and can be polymerised in a controlled fashion enabling the synthesis of defined homopolymers (dispersity &lt; 1.3) and the chain extension of a N-acryloyl morpholine chain transfer agent to afford block copolymers of tailored composition. Upon deprotection of the carboxylic acid groups, the polymers showed similar pKa values as EDTA and were able to efficiently complex Zr(IV) in aqueous solution. Specifically, complexation studies using block copolymers revealed the formation of defined nanostructures (Figure 1B and C), which were stable in serum containing cell media for at least 24 h. Their negligible cell toxicity and ability to encapsulate 89Zr render the polymers and nanostructures presented suitable candidates for future diagnostic and radiotherapeutic applications in biomedicine.

EDTA mimicking polymers and their ability to form Zr(IV) chelation mediated nanostructures

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.