[18F]FECNT

[18F]FECNT is a fluorine-18 labeled tropane derivative that serves as a highly selective radioligand for the dopamine transporter (DAT). Developed primarily for positron emission tomography (PET) neuroimaging, it binds with high affinity to the DAT protein (SLC6A3) found on the presynaptic terminals of dopaminergic neurons. It is used as a diagnostic tool to assess the integrity of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system, which is significantly impaired in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Compared to other tropane-based PET tracers like carbon-11 labeled WIN 35,428 or beta-CIT, [18F]FECNT exhibits superior kinetics, including faster equilibration and higher striatal-to-cerebellar contrast ratios. Beyond Parkinson's disease, it has been investigated for its utility in monitoring dopaminergic changes in conditions such as cocaine use disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Other names

2-beta-carbomethoxy-3-beta-(4-chlorophenyl)-8-(2-[18F]-fluoroethyl)nortropane18F-FECNTfluorine-18 FECNTfluorine18 FECNTfluorine 18 FECNT[18F]-FECNT