Ebenhan, ThomasMokaleng, Botshelo B.Venter, Jacobus DanielKruger, Hendrik GertZeevaart, Jan RijnSathekge, Mike Machaba2017-10-312017-10-312017-09Ebenhan, T., Mokaleng, B.B., Venter, J.D., Kruger, H.G., Zeevaart, J.R. & Sathekge, M. 2017, 'Preclinical assessment of a 68Ga-DOTA-functionalized depsipeptide as a radiodiagnostic infection imaging agent', Molecules, vol. 22, no. 9, art. no. 1403, pp. 1-14.1420-3049 (online)10.3390/molecules22091403http://hdl.handle.net/2263/62988The study assessed a radiolabeled depsipeptide conjugate (68Ga-DOTA-TBIA101) for its potential as an imaging agent targeting infection or infection-associated inflammation. 68Ga-labeled DOTA-TBIA101 imaging was performed in (NZR1) healthy rabbits; (NZR2) rabbits bearing muscular sterile inflammation and Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infection; and (NZR3) rabbits infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) combined with a subcutaneous scruff infection of SA in the same animal. All animals were imaged using a PET/CT scanner at 5 and 60 min post injection. Images showed elevated accumulation of 68Ga-DOTA-TBIA101 in the sterile muscular inflammation site (T/NT ratio = 2.6 0.37 (5 min) and 2.8 2.3 (60 min)) and muscles infected with MTB (T/NT ratio = 2.6 0.35 (5 min) and 2.8 0.16 (60 min)). The findings suggest that 68Ga-DOTA-TBIA101-PET/CT may detect MTB-associated inflammation, although more foundational studies need to be performed to rationalize the diagnostic value of this technique.en© 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.DOTA-TBIA101DepsipeptidesInfectionInflammation68Ga/68Ge generatorPET/CT imagingTuberculosis (TB)Article