99mTc-AO-BBN

99mTc-AO-BBN is a dual-targeted radiopharmaceutical conjugate designed for targeted radionuclide therapy and imaging, specifically investigated in the context of prostate cancer. The molecule consists of a technetium-99m (99mTc) radionuclide complexed with a bombesin (BBN) derivative and an acridine orange (AO) moiety. The bombesin component targets the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), which is frequently overexpressed on the surface of various cancer cells, including human prostate cancer PC3 cells. The acridine orange component serves as a nuclear localizing agent by intercalating into DNA. This dual-targeting strategy aims to internalize the radioconjugate and transport it to the nucleus, where the short-range Auger electrons emitted by 99mTc can effectively induce DNA damage, such as double-strand breaks (evidenced by γH2AX foci) and micronuclei formation, leading to enhanced cell death compared to single-targeted analogs.

Other names

99mTc-labeled acridine orange-bombesin conjugate