Radiopharmaceutical Applications of Organometallic Technetium and Rhenium Complexes

Technetium and rhenium congener metals have wide applications in radiopharmacy. Techentium-99m is an ideal γ-emitting diagnostic radionuclide and Re-186, Re-188 are β-emitting isotopes applied in radiotherapy. Organometallic complexes of the fac-[ReI/TcI(CO)3]-type have suitable properties for radiopharmaceutical applications and high in vivo stability. In this review, general aspects of radiopharmaceutical design with technetium and rhenium are covered. Emphasis is given on the ligands designed for the fac-[ReI/TcI(CO)3] core. Examples of targeted fac-[ReI/TcI(CO)3]-type and ReIII/TcIII(NS3)(CNR)-type complexes in various radiopharmaceutical applications are presented in the last section.