Folate-receptor targeted imaging agents

摘要

The invention provides a use of a compound of the formula
wherein V is a folate, wherein the folate is a substrate for receptor-mediated transmembrane transport in vivo, or a folate receptor binding derivative or analog thereof;
L is a divalent linker;
R is a side chain of an amino acid;
M is a cation of a radionuclide;
n is 1 or 0; and
k is 1 or 0;
for imaging a population of cells in an animal pre-injected with unlabeled folate. The combination of the compound with unlabeled folate is also provided.