Labeling and preliminary in vivo assessment of niobium-labeled radioactive species: A proof-of-concept study.

Abstract The application of radionuclide-labeled biomolecules such as monoclonal antibodies or antibody fragments for imaging purposes is called immunoscintigraphy . More specifically, when the nuclides used are positron emitters, such as zirconium-89, the technique is referred to as immuno-PET . Currently, there is an urgent need for radionuclides with a half-life which correlates well with the biological kinetics of the biomolecules under question and which can be attached to the proteins by robust labeling chemistry. 90 Nb is a promising candidate for in vivo immuno-PET , due its half-life of 14.6h and low β + energy of E mean =0.35MeV per decay. 95 Nb on the other hand, is a convenient …