Copper-mediated radiochemistry: historical impact, current trends, and future possibilities

Gregory D Bowden; Marius Müller; Matthias M Herth; Melanie S Sanford; Peter J H Scott

doi:10.1038/s44303-025-00087-x

Copper-mediated radiochemistry: historical impact, current trends, and future possibilities

Npj Imaging. 2025 Jun 10:3:25. doi: 10.1038/s44303-025-00087-x. eCollection 2025.

Authors

Gregory D Bowden^{1

2

3}, Marius Müller^{1

4}, Matthias M Herth^{4

5}, Melanie S Sanford⁶, Peter J H Scott¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 1301 Catherine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA.
² Werner Siemens Imaging Center, Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
³ Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
⁴ Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁵ Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 N University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA.

Abstract

Modern approaches to copper-mediated radiolabeling have proven an important addition to the radiochemical toolbox. Radiopharmaceuticals prepared using this methodology have been translated from preclinical PET studies into clinical trials, and it has been adapted for radionuclides beyond fluorine-18, enabling theranostic applications. The methodology is also beginning to benefit from AI-assisted radiochemistry development. This perspective discusses the history, state-of-the-art, and potential future impact of copper-mediated radiochemistry on radiopharmaceutical development.

Keywords: Chemistry; Molecular imaging; Positron-emission tomography; Radionuclide imaging.

Publication types

Review