Site-specific labeling of ‘second generation’ annexin V with 99mTc(CO)3 for improved imaging of apoptosis in vivo Original Research Article

In this study ‘second generation’ AnxV was specifically labeled with 99mTc in three different ways outside the binding region of the protein to obtain an improved target-to-background activity ratio. The compounds were tested in vitro and in vivo in normal mice and in a model of hepatic apoptosis (anti-Fas mAb). The apoptosis binding was most prominent for the HIS-tagged ‘second generation’ AnxV labeled with 99mTc(CO)3 in comparison to 99mTc-HYNIC-cys-AnxV and 99mTc(CO)3-DTPA-cys-AnxV.