Development of a (18) F-labeled tetrazine with favorable pharmacokinetics for bioorthogonal PET imaging.

A low-molecular-weight (18) F-labeled tetrazine derivative was developed as a highly versatile tool for bioorthogonal PET imaging. Prosthetic groups and undesired carrying of (18) F through additional steps were evaded by direct (18) F-fluorination of an appropriate tetrazine precursor. Reaction kinetics of the cycloaddition with trans-cyclooctenes were investigated by applying quantum chemical calculations and stopped-flow measurements in human plasma; the results indicated that the labeled tetrazine is suitable as a bioorthogonal probe for the imaging of dienophile-tagged (bio)molecules. In vitro and in vivo investigations revealed high stability and PET/MRI in mice showed fast homogeneous biodistribution of the (18) F-labeled tetrazine that also passes the blood-brain barrier. An in vivo click experiment confirmed the bioorthogonal behavior of this novel tetrazine probe. Due to favorable chemical and pharmacokinetic properties this bioorthogonal agent should find application in bioimaging and biomedical research.