Abstract
About 35% reduction in cancer deaths among patients having solid tumors is related to using aspirin, which encouraged us to develop a new specific tumor diagnostic radiopharmaceutical agent. This can be done by direct labeling of aspirin with technetium-99m using stannous chloride as a reductant at pH 9. At this pH, aspirin is saponificated to salicylate ions. Salicylate binds to pertechenetate to form Tc-99m salicylate complex. The radiochemical yield (RCY, %) of Tc-99m-salicylate complex obtained from aspirin was determined using paper chromatography, electrophoresis, and HPLC and was found to reach 90.2%. The Tc-99m salicylate complex obtained from aspirin was stable for up to 5 h. The tumor uptake of the Tc-99m salicylate complex obtained from aspirin was determined by ex-vivo study in tumor-bearing mice. This study showed that Tc-99m salicylate complex was concentrated in tumor sites (ascites or solid), allowing tumor radioimaging. High target/non-target (tumor muscles/normal muscles) uptake ratio shows that Tc-99m salicylate complex can be utilized for early detection of solid tumors. Molecular modeling and docking study conofirm the possibility of using the radiolabeled Tc-99m salicylate complex for specific cancer imaging in binding with epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR).