[68Ga]Ga-DFO-B

[68Ga]Ga-DFO-B is an investigational radiopharmaceutical tracer developed for the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of invasive fungal infections, particularly pulmonary aspergillosis. It consists of the siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFO-B) labeled with the positron-emitting isotope Gallium-68. The mechanism of action exploits the iron-scavenging pathways of *Aspergillus fumigatus* and other fungi, which secrete siderophores to acquire iron from their environment. Gallium-68 acts as a chemical mimic for ferric iron (Fe3+), allowing the [68Ga]Ga-DFO-B complex to be specifically recognized and internalized by fungal cells via specialized siderophore transporters. This targeted uptake enables high-contrast imaging of fungal lesions, potentially allowing for the non-invasive differentiation of aspergillosis from other inflammatory or neoplastic lung conditions. The development of this tracer is primarily led by the Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc).

Other names

68Ga-desferrioxamine BGallium-68 desferrioxamine BGallium68 desferrioxamine BGallium 68 desferrioxamine Bgallium Ga-68 desferrioxamine B