The current status and promising potential of copper-based radiopharmaceutical development towards future theranostics: an overview

Copper is a naturally abundant element that has primarily five clinically important radioisotopes that can be used for theranostic applications in nuclear medicine ( 60 Cu, 61 Cu, 62 Cu, 64 Cu, and 67 Cu). With similar chemical properties which enable the synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals with similar pharmacokinetic properties, these isotopes of copper have different decay characteristics making them valuable for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. 60 Cu, 61 Cu, 62 Cu, and 64 Cu have been used for diagnostic purposes owing to their β + decay and relatively short half-lives and 67 Cu has been employed for therapeutic uses because of its β - decay. This review covers the fundamental properties of copper, the production methods for the five significant copper radionuclides of interest in nuclear medicine, provides a summary of the available bifunctional chelators and the advantages and disadvantages of various copper radiopharmaceuticals employed in clinical and research settings. Finally, it discusses the clinical studies and explores the future potentials of these promising advancements in clinical practice.