Molecular Tracer and Imaging Core Facility

National Institute Of Biomedical Imaging And Bioengineering, Bethesda

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

This is a report of the Molecular Tracer and Imaging Core Facility of the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB). The major theme of our work is to utilize radionuclides for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. We also have capabilities in chemical synthesis, primarily organic chemistry and bioconjugate chemistry. The laboratory is well equipped with analytical chemistry equipment to allow identity and purity analyses to be conducted on entities ranging from small molecules to large proteins. This equipment includes high resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. We also house PET/CT and optical imaging devices in our laboratory. In the past year the COVID pandemic has reduced the pace of research. Most of the collaborators from the past year are still interested in pursuing their projects. We have actively pursued new collaborative projects with intramural investigators from other institutes. 1) NIDDK projects. a. EB-DOTATATE conjugate is of interest to this collaborator for therapy of tumor models containing somatostatin receptors. A publication from the previous study was published late in 2020. b. Discussion of new targets is now in progress. 2) NIBIB project. We have a mass spectrometry laboratory with two high resolution HPLC-MS systems. One of the instruments (Waters QTOF) is almost exclusively used to conduct characterization of chemicals synthesized in by Core Facility personnel. The second (Thermo Q-exactive), which promises higher mass resolution and higher sensitivity, is being evaluated to conduct studies of binding interactions between albumin and chemically synthesized binding molecules. This instrument also has capability in proteomics and has been used by NIBIBs Micro Analytical Immunochemistry Unit of the Shared Resource on Biomedical Engineering and Physical Science. 3) NIDCR project. An investigator in NIDCR has been studying F-18 fluoride uptake in a mouse model of a rare human bone disease. Studies have proceeded. We are working with the equipment manufacturer to improve the resolution of the CT component of our PET/CT instrument. 4) NIAAA Project. An investigator is studying the effects of fever on genetically modified animal models. 18FFDG will be used to study control animals and models. 5) CC project. A senior investigator in the CC exploring an application of nanobodies, the antibody-like molecules of the camelid family. These are lower molecular weight than human antibodies and promise faster kinetics to provide a better imaging agent. 6) NCI project. Development of therapeutic ligands against a number of tumor markers. Goal is to utilize peptide ligands with radionuclides for imaging and therapy. 7) NCI project. An NCI investigator will use PET/CT to study a rare tumor model in mice. 8) NIAID project. An NIAID investigator has mutual interest in preparing novel ligands, including small molecules, peptides, nanobodies, and antibodies, to study chemokine ligands and receptors as a function of immune system stimulation. We will work to develop the small molecule precursors and develop the radiochemical syntheses. We will conduct the necessary bioconjugate chemistry to attach chelates to the antibodies.