abstract |
Agents for the diagnosis or treatment of hypoxic cells comprise a bioreductive moiety such as 2-nitroimidazole, and a metal chelating moiety which is a bis-amine oxime of which a carbon atom adjacent a nitrogen atom is linked to the bioreductive moiety. A chelated metal atom or ion preferably Technetium-99m. The agent diffuses into cells where the 2-nitroimidazole is reduced thus trapping the chelated metal in the cell. |