RDC (Radionuclide Drug Conjugate), a novel trend in bioconjugation drug development, has multiple uses in clinical diagnostic and treatment. Four components are needed in RDC, including radionuclide, chelator, linker, and delivery part. Three kinds of delivery parts, including antibodies, small molecules, and peptides are utilized in RDC.
RDC is a bifunctional radiopharmaceutical with two essential parts, including a radionuclide and a targeting molecule. The radionuclide is utilized as the effective part to conduct cancer cell damaging and diagnostic imaging at the cell level, while the targeting molecule is the delivery vehicle to drive the RDC to the diseased tissue. Based on the different types of targeting molecules, the RDC can be divided into three categories, containing antibody-based RDC, small molecule-based RDC, and peptide-based RDC.
Three types of radioactive particles are used in RDC, covering alpha, beta, and gamma particles. According to the different kinds of radioactive beams emitted by the particles, the RDC has two different utilizes in clinical applications. After injection into the patient's body, the RDC drug is carried through the circulatory system by targeted molecules, working as a vector, to the site of the disease, where it works in the cancerous tissue.
Diagnostic Imaging
The gamma-emitting radionuclides with the most penetrating radioactive beams are widely used to conduct diagnostic imaging at the cell level.
Cancer Treatment
The alpha- and beta- emitting radioactive particles with less penetrating radioactive beams play a significant role in damaging cancer cells accurately.