Presentation
Group of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences
The main activity of the Group of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences (RS) is the design, synthesis and characterization of novel specific radioactive probes with potential interest on Nuclear Medicine diagnostic or therapy. These probes are useful for non-invasive molecular imaging of targeted macromolecules and biological processes associated to different pathologies. By using beta or Auger emitters they might be suitable for therapy.
The Group is multidisciplinary, combining expertise on organic, inorganic and organometallic chemistry of d- and f-elements, on radiochemistry as well as on animal and cell studies. This combination, unique in the country, is possible due to our expertise and to the facilities implemented and maintained by the Group, such as laboratories and equipment for the synthesis and characterization of inactive and radioactive compounds (multinuclear NMR, HPLC: UV/vis and g detection, ionization chambers and multichannel counters), animal facilities, laboratories and equipment for animal studies, cell culture and evaluation of radioactive compounds.
Our basic and applied-oriented research intends to contribute for:
- Design of target specific probes for molecular imaging and/or targeted therapy;
- Technical and scientific support to Nuclear Medicine Centers and to the Portuguese Medicines Evaluation Agency;
- Training in Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Radiopharmacy.
1. Research Activities
Goals
- Metal-d and - f - Based Drugs: The metal-based drugs research (pdf, 474 Kb) involves mainly basic chemistry, radiochemistry and biological evaluation of Re, Tc and Ln complexes, as these elements have radionuclides relevant for therapy and/or imaging (see image). The great challenge of this research area is to design different building blocks for labeling biomolecules while maintaining their specificity for the receptors.
- Halogen-Based Drugs: The halogen-based drugs research involves the synthesis and radiohalogenation of estradiol (pps, 352 Kb) and quinazolina (pps, 177 Kb) derivatives to be evaluated as therapeutic and/or imaging agents.
Detection of infection focus with 99mTc-HIG.
Running Projects
- Radiopharmaceuticals for Treatment of Bone Cancer Pain and/or Therapy Based on Macrocyclic Lanthanide Complexes. Ref.: POCTI/35859/SAU/99, Coordenador do ITN: Isabel Santos.
- Organometallic Rhenium and Technetium Complexes: Design of Radiopharmaceuticals for Brain Receptor Imaging. Ref.: POCTI/QUI/42939/2001, Coordenador do ITN: António Paulo.
- Specific Organometallic Complexes. Pharmaceutical Industry Research Contract, Coordenador do ITN: Isabel Santos.
- Virtual Radiopharmacy: A mindful Learning Environment: V Framework Programme. Ref.: EC Shared COST RTD ACTION: IST-2001-32291, Coordenador do ITN: Lurdes Gano, Primeiro Contratante: St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Coordenador: S. Mather.
- Co-Ordination Action on Education and Training in Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste Management. Ref.: VI Framework Programme: FP6/508835, Coordenador do ITN: Isabel Santos, Primeiro Contratante: GRC, UK, ITN.
- Novel Metal Fragments Potentially Useful for Labeling Biologically Relevant Molecules with Tc and /or Re. Ref.: POCI/QUI/58245/2004, Coordenador do ITN: Isabel Santos.
- Multicomponent Technetium and Gallium Metallointercalators for Targeted Radiotherapy. POCI/QUI/57632/2004, Coordenador do ITN: António Paulo.
- Novel Radioactive Probes for Molecular Imaging of Sigma Receptors. POCI/QUI/59588/2004, Coordenador do ITN: António Paulo.
- Novel Estrogen Receptor Ligands as Potential Probes for Targeted Tumour Imaging and Therapy. Centro de Investigação em Meio Ambiente Genética e Oncologia (CIMAGO) and Fundação Luso- Americana para o Desenvolvimento (FLAD), PI-0905, Coordenador do ITN: M. C. Oliveira.
- Radiolabelling of L-Arginine Analogues with the fac-[99mTc(CO)3]+ for Probing Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS)in vivo: Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Evaluation. Ref.: POCTI/SAU-FCF/58855/2004, Coordenador do ITN: João Domingos Galamba Correia.
- Novel Approaches to Anti-Cancer Drug Development. Apoio Financeiro: Breast Cancer Campaign, Primeiro Contratante: Open University, London/UK, Coordenador do ITN: Isabel Santos, Parceiros: Queen's Medical Center, University Nottingham, UK.
- COST ACTION B12, Radiotracers for in vivo Assessment of Biological Functions.
- COST Action D18, Lanthanides in Therapy: Particle Emitting Radiolanthanides and Stable Lanthanides with Radiation Induced by External Irradiation.
2. Equipment and Infrastructures
Main equipment and infrastructures operated by this group:
- Laboratories for Chemical Synthesis
- Laboratory for Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis
- Laboratories for Handling Radioactive Materials:
Synthesis of Halogen- and Metal-Based Radioactive Compounds
Laboratory for Quality Control of Radioactive Compounds
Clean Room to Prepare Pharmaceuticals for Clinical Application - Laboratories for Biological Assays:
Animal Facilities with Temperature, Humidity and Light Control
Laboratories for In Vivo Biological Assays
Laboratory for Cell Culture
Laboratories for In Vitro Studies
Laboratory for Biochemical and Molecular Biology Studies