[18F]AZAN

[18F]AZAN is a radiopharmaceutical positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent specifically designed for the in vivo quantification of high-affinity α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain. It is a fluorine-18 labeled ligand that demonstrates high specificity, rapid brain uptake, reversible binding kinetics, and excellent reproducibility for measuring receptor density and occupancy. The tracer allows reliable PET imaging with scan times as short as 90 minutes and has been validated in both animal models (baboons) and human subjects. Its binding can be displaced by nicotine or selective partial agonists such as varenicline, confirming its target specificity. Developed primarily for neuroimaging research applications—including studies of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia—[18F]AZAN offers significant improvements over previous nAChR PET ligands due to its faster kinetics and higher specific binding[1][3][4][6].

Brand names

[18F]AZAN

Other names

(-)-2-(6-[18F]fluoro-2,3'-bipyridin-5'-yl)-7-methyl-7-aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane18F-AZAN