Technetium-99m radiochemistry for pharmaceutical applications.

Technetium-99m (99m Tc) is a widely used radionuclide, and the development of 99m Tc imaging agents continues to be in demand. This overview discusses basic principles of 99m Tc radiopharmaceutical preparation and design and focuses on the 99m Tc radiochemistry relevant to its pharmaceutical applications. The 99m Tc complexes are described based on the most typical examples in each category, keeping up with the state-of-the-art in the field. In addition, the main current strategies to develop targeted 99m Tc radiopharmaceuticals are summarized.