Doctoral Dissertations

Orcid ID

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3907-9724

Date of Award

12-2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Nuclear Engineering

Major Professor

Ivis F. Chaple

Committee Members

Kondapa Naidu Bobba, Michael E. Howard, Francisco N. Barrera

Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful molecular imaging modality used for the diagnosis, characterization, and monitoring of disease. By exploiting differences in the cellular expression profiles of different types of cancer, PET enables the development of radiopharmaceuticals that specifically target biomarkers associated with disease, thereby improving diagnostic sensitivity and helps facilitate personalized treatment strategies. The ongoing identification of molecular targets continues to drive the need for innovative diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, highlighting PETs central role in advancing precision medicine and molecular imaging.

The aim of this work was to develop novel radiopharmaceuticals using zirconium-89 and copper-64 for PET imaging of various types of cancer. Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to characterize the stability, binding specificity, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution profiles of the novel radiopharmaceuticals, [89Zr]Zr-DFO-TOC and [64Cu]Cu-DOTA-TYPE7. The results of these studies provide critical insight into the translational potential of these imaging agents and lay the groundwork for future theranostic applications in peptide receptor radionuclide therapy with therapeutic radionuclides including 177Lu and 67Cu. Here, we highlight the role of targeted PET imaging in advancing precision oncology by improving tumor detection and guiding treatment selection.

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