Efficient preparation of 64Cu and radiolabeling of Nectin-4 antibody for esophageal cancer imaging | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Efficient preparation of 64Cu and radiolabeling of Nectin-4 antibody for esophageal cancer imaging Xin Di, xilian wang, zihao wang, xinyun ge, shuyu lin, jiaqiang hou, and 6 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9185285/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Copper-64( 64 Cu) is a radioactive isotope used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, with promising applications in theranostics. However, the supply of 64 Cu is limited and requires significant personnel involvement. To enhance 64 Cu yield and minimize personnel exposure, we presented an automated method for producing high-specific-activity 64 Cu. Our approach involved the design of a novel electroplating device that employed ⁶⁴Ni as the target material, coupled with an automated system for target dissolution and transfer. Automated ion exchange chromatography was utilized to efficiently purify the dissolved 64 Cu, achieving a radionuclide purity of 99.9%. We utilized enriched 64 Ni (99.32%) and achieved an electroplating thickness of 60.2–62.2 mg/cm², resulting in a radioactive yield of over 300 mCi. Further synthesis of 64 Cu-NOTA-Nectin-4 was carried out, and it was applied to the imaging and biological distribution studies of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, effectively targeting the tumor site. Leveraging the moderate half-life of 64 Cu and its production via medical cyclotrons, this approach enables extended imaging windows, precise tumor localization, providing new insights for the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer in clinical practice. copper-64 electroplating automatic solid target Nectin-4 positron emission tomography (PET) esophageal cancer Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9185285","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":616167073,"identity":"70df39c5-fb39-40a1-bedd-1494d3d90dc3","order_by":0,"name":"Xin Di","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Southwest University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xin","middleName":"","lastName":"Di","suffix":""},{"id":616167076,"identity":"6ceb012e-6805-4997-9828-456ecc280987","order_by":1,"name":"xilian wang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The People's Hospital of Jiulongpo Distric","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"xilian","middleName":"","lastName":"wang","suffix":""},{"id":616167078,"identity":"b60696b6-8bf4-457a-bf11-c62430a5eba3","order_by":2,"name":"zihao wang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Southwest University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"zihao","middleName":"","lastName":"wang","suffix":""},{"id":616167080,"identity":"17c4b93e-def4-4cbf-bb54-0cb01e6b7569","order_by":3,"name":"xinyun ge","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Southwest University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"xinyun","middleName":"","lastName":"ge","suffix":""},{"id":616167081,"identity":"d82cee69-4cfb-49f5-9aa2-13e5f1e87c58","order_by":4,"name":"shuyu lin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sichuan longevous beamtech co.,ltd","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"shuyu","middleName":"","lastName":"lin","suffix":""},{"id":616167083,"identity":"47021dd2-4ea0-4aac-9a8c-e846e573c230","order_by":5,"name":"jiaqiang hou","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"jiaqiang","middleName":"","lastName":"hou","suffix":""},{"id":616167085,"identity":"d7c2dbb9-bad3-44b2-adc9-6b67bdddf872","order_by":6,"name":"yan yang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Chengdu Medical College","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"yan","middleName":"","lastName":"yang","suffix":""},{"id":616167087,"identity":"e7b640de-0091-400d-b70c-c2fc88ecb44c","order_by":7,"name":"zhi yang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Mianyang Central Hospital","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"zhi","middleName":"","lastName":"yang","suffix":""},{"id":616167089,"identity":"891789ac-4d1e-4097-85c4-accc6adf5829","order_by":8,"name":"zhou lu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Mianyang Central Hospital","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"zhou","middleName":"","lastName":"lu","suffix":""},{"id":616167091,"identity":"33714db9-209f-4ac4-af16-902c8f1dca59","order_by":9,"name":"fubo ye","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sichuan longevous beamtech co.,ltd","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"fubo","middleName":"","lastName":"ye","suffix":""},{"id":616167093,"identity":"38105561-6f76-44a7-b8b4-396c3472c560","order_by":10,"name":"ruiling xu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Mianyang Central Hospital","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"ruiling","middleName":"","lastName":"xu","suffix":""},{"id":616167095,"identity":"f661c4b7-a031-4e5d-8614-0a447860cca5","order_by":11,"name":"xiaoan li","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAvklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACA2YGhgMgBj+Ef4AELZINRGuBMw4QrYWdx/DAjwq7POPzhx8w3ai5w8A/u4GQw9gSDvacSS42u5FmwJxz7BmDxB0CNhkwMx84wNvGnLjtBg/779yGwwwGEgmEtDA2HPzbVp+4uf8MAzORWpgPHOZtO5y4gSGHaC1sCYdlzhxPnAHxy2EeiRsEtNj3nzH++KaiOrG///AD5pyaw3L8MwhowQA8JKofBaNgFIyCUYANAABkfEJoAMwakwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Southwest University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"xiaoan","middleName":"","lastName":"li","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-21 11:08:16","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9185285/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9185285/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":106402821,"identity":"0bb62b3c-0eb9-4ee4-8bbe-2d7c5806866d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-08 09:12:57","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":854415,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9185285/v1_covered_36d1200a-d122-4237-b3d2-cf5fcf210275.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Efficient preparation of 64Cu and radiolabeling of Nectin-4 antibody for esophageal cancer imaging","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"
[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"copper-64, electroplating, automatic solid target, Nectin-4, positron emission tomography (PET), esophageal cancer","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9185285/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9185285/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eCopper-64(\u003csup\u003e64\u003c/sup\u003eCu) is a radioactive isotope used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, with promising applications in theranostics. However, the supply of \u003csup\u003e64\u003c/sup\u003eCu is limited and requires significant personnel involvement. To enhance \u003csup\u003e64\u003c/sup\u003eCu yield and minimize personnel exposure, we presented an automated method for producing high-specific-activity \u003csup\u003e64\u003c/sup\u003eCu. Our approach involved the design of a novel electroplating device that employed ⁶⁴Ni as the target material, coupled with an automated system for target dissolution and transfer. Automated ion exchange chromatography was utilized to efficiently purify the dissolved \u003csup\u003e64\u003c/sup\u003eCu, achieving a radionuclide purity of 99.9%. We utilized enriched \u003csup\u003e64\u003c/sup\u003eNi (99.32%) and achieved an electroplating thickness of 60.2\u0026ndash;62.2 mg/cm\u0026sup2;, resulting in a radioactive yield of over 300 mCi. Further synthesis of \u003csup\u003e64\u003c/sup\u003eCu-NOTA-Nectin-4 was carried out, and it was applied to the imaging and biological distribution studies of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, effectively targeting the tumor site. Leveraging the moderate half-life of \u003csup\u003e64\u003c/sup\u003eCu and its production via medical cyclotrons, this approach enables extended imaging windows, precise tumor localization, providing new insights for the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer in clinical practice.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Efficient preparation of 64Cu and radiolabeling of Nectin-4 antibody for esophageal cancer imaging","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-06 02:04:05","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9185285/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"
[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"15c535ec-e44d-4575-9d95-a641c600d1de","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 6th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-06T08:28:35+00:00","index":17,"fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-06T02:04:05+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-06 02:04:05","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9185285","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9185285","identity":"rs-9185285","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}
Text is read by the "Ask this paper" AI Q&A widget below.
Extraction quality varies by source — PMC NXML preserves structure
cleanly, OA-HTML may include some navigation residue, and OA-PDF can
have broken hyphenation. The publisher copy
(via DOI)
is the canonical version.