Porphyrins as ligands for 64copper: background and trends

Porphyrins and Cu-64 have emerged as a novel synergic option for applications in PET molecular imaging. Both the characteristics and photophysical properties of macrocyclic porphyrins and the relatively long half-life of the copper isotope, in addition to the increased tumor-specific uptake of porphyrins compared to normal cells, make this complex an attractive option not only for diagnosis but also for therapeutic applications. Herein, we present an overview of the latest results on the development of PET agents based on porphyrins and Cu-64, including methods used to improve the selectivity of these macrocycles when conjugated with biological units such as monoclonal antibodies, peptides or proteins.