title: The copper radioisotopes: a systematic review with special interest to 64Cu.
abstract: Copper (Cu) is an important trace element in humans; it plays a role as a cofactor for numerous enzymes and other proteins crucial for respiration, iron transport, metabolism, cell growth, and hemostasis. Natural copper comprises two stable isotopes, (63)Cu and (65)Cu, and 5 principal radioisotopes for molecular imaging applications ((60)Cu, (61)Cu, (62)Cu, and (64)Cu) and in vivo targeted radiation therapy ((64)Cu and (67)Cu). The two potential ways to produce Cu radioisotopes concern the use of the cyclotron or the reactor. A noncopper target is used to produce noncarrier-added Cu thanks to a chemical separation from the target material using ion exchange chromatography achieving a high amount of radioactivity with the lowest possible amount of nonradioactive isotopes. In recent years, Cu isotopes have been linked to antibodies, proteins, peptides, and nanoparticles for preclinical and clinical research; pathological conditions that influence Cu metabolism such as Menkes syndrome, Wilson disease, inflammation, tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance have been studied. We aim to discuss all Cu radioisotopes application focusing on (64)Cu and in particular its form (64)CuCl2 that seems to be the most promising for its half-life, radiation emissions, and stability with chelators, allowing several applications in oncological and nononcological fields.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Artor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niccoli Asabella
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, University of Catanzaro Magna Graecia, Viale Europa, Localitá Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe Lucio
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Cascini
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Altini
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paparella
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Notaristefano
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1972-3308
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubini
mesh_terms: D003301:Copper Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D009683:Nuclear Medicine; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D003301:Copper Radioisotopes