Solid phase reduction of 99mTcO4radical with zinc: a method for the preparation of difficult 99mTc complexes

Two groups of compounds: aminoacids (glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, lysine) and amines (ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, o-phenantroline, o-phenylenediamine) have been labelled with 99mTc by means of a solid phase reduction using fine powdered zinc as reducing agent. In all cases radiochemical purity in excess of 90% was obtained, with no evidence of colloid formation. Labelling yields were variable depending on the ligand used. The results show that the method presented allows labelling some molecules with 99mTc for which the use of conventional techniques are not feasible. (author)