Figure 1
(left) Structure of [Cu(ATSM)], (right) Generalised schematic of the proposed trapping mechanisms for [64Cu][Cu(BTSC)] PET tracers. [64Cu][Cu(II)(BTSCs)] passively diffuse into cells where they can be reduced to a charged Cu(I) complex which is unable to leave the cell. In the presence of oxygen this Cu(I) complex is rapidly reoxidised back to Cu(II) which is again able to diffuse out of the cell. If oxygen is insufficient, the Cu(I) complex can become further reduced and dissociate. The Cu(I) then becomes sequestered by copper chelating proteins and trapped inside the cell (Adapted with permission from Pell et al. 2018 under a CC BY open access licence)42.
