Zhengxing Zhang, PhD
Associate Research ScientistCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Molecular Imaging of Collagen Turnover in Myocardial Infarction
Neishabouri A, Ghim M, Varli O, Ahmad A, Kukreja G, Zhang Z, Li J, Toczek J, Salarian M, Gona K, Hedayatyanfard K, Zhang J, Alshaeba D, Akar F, Liu C, Huang H, Yu S, Sadeghi M. Molecular Imaging of Collagen Turnover in Myocardial Infarction. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2026, 67: jnumed.125.271721. PMID: 41887734, PMCID: PMC13224913, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.125.271721.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTracer uptakeMyocardial infarctionInfarct zoneCardiac fibrosisLeft anterior descending arteryContrast-enhanced CTManagement of cardiomyopathyCollagen turnoverCardiac tissueBiomarkers of collagen turnoverPersonalized managementNoninvasive detectionMyocardial perfusion imagingEx vivo autoradiographyAnterior descending arteryMolecular imagingHuman cardiac tissueControl tracerCardiac uptakeSPECT/CT imagingAntifibrotic treatmentSham surgeryFibrotic changesDescending arteryPerfusion imagingDevelopment of an Optimized CXCR4-Targeting Theranostic Pair
Kwon D, Bloise I, Zhang Z, Colpo N, Wilson R, Tan R, Merkens H, Zeisler J, Lau J, Lin K, Bénard F. Development of an Optimized CXCR4-Targeting Theranostic Pair. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2026, 67: 773-779. PMID: 41611474, PMCID: PMC13138108, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.125.269933.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStructure-activity relationship studiesRenal excretionBiodistribution studiesTumor uptakeTherapeutic efficacyConclusion:SPECT imagesC-X-C chemokine receptor 4Results:CXCR4 bindingChemokine receptor 4Cyclic peptidesAcid linkerMetastatic recurrenceSide chain lengthSurvival benefitLymphoma modelCyclic peptide sequencingPreclinical studiesStructure-activity studiesReceptor 4Therapy studiesBlocking studiesKidney uptakeTumor
2025
Collagen Hybridizing Peptide-Based Radiotracers for Molecular Imaging of Collagen Turnover in Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Ahmad A, Ghim M, Kukreja G, Neishabouri A, Zhang Z, Li J, Salarian M, Toczek J, Gona K, Hedayatyanfard K, Morrison T, Zhang J, Huang Y, Liu C, Yu S, Sadeghi M. Collagen Hybridizing Peptide-Based Radiotracers for Molecular Imaging of Collagen Turnover in Pulmonary Fibrosis. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2025, 66: 425-433. PMID: 39915119, PMCID: PMC11876730, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.124.268832.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPulmonary fibrosisTracer uptakeLung uptakeMurine model of pulmonary fibrosisModel of pulmonary fibrosisMice 3 wkEffect of antifibrotic therapyCollagen turnoverInterstitial lung diseaseClinical diagnostic methodsSPECT/CT imagingHybrid tracersLung histologyAntifibrotic therapyControl miceDisease activityMurine modelLung diseaseMice 8Tissue fibrosisPatient managementLiver uptakeSPECT/CTFibrosisSPECT images
2024
Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel 68Ga-Labeled [D-Phe6,Leu13ψThz14]bombesin(6-14) Analogs for Cancer Imaging with Positron Emission Tomography
Wang L, Chen C, Zhang Z, Kuo H, Zhang C, Colpo N, Merkens H, Bénard F, Lin K. Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel 68Ga-Labeled [D-Phe6,Leu13ψThz14]bombesin(6-14) Analogs for Cancer Imaging with Positron Emission Tomography. Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17: 621. PMID: 38794191, PMCID: PMC11124507, DOI: 10.3390/ph17050621.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGastrin-releasing peptide receptorPositron emission tomographyPancreas uptakeTumor uptakeTumor-to-background uptake ratioPC-3 tumor xenograftsEmission tomographyEx vivo biodistribution studiesIn vivo stabilityPreclinical mouse modelsHigh tumor uptakePositron emission tomography imagingAntagonist tracersGastrin releasing peptide receptor binding affinityTumor xenograftsMouse modelBiodistribution studiesPeptide receptorUptake ratioPost-injectionClinical applicationCancerTumorCancer diagnosisMetabolic instabilityDevelopment, preclinical evaluation and preliminary dosimetry profiling of SB03178, a first-of-its-kind benzo[h]quinoline-based fibroblast activation protein-α-targeted radiotheranostic for cancer imaging and therapy
Bendre S, Merkens H, Kuo H, Ng P, Wong A, Lau W, Zhang Z, Kurkowska S, Chen C, Uribe C, Bénard F, Lin K. Development, preclinical evaluation and preliminary dosimetry profiling of SB03178, a first-of-its-kind benzo[h]quinoline-based fibroblast activation protein-α-targeted radiotheranostic for cancer imaging and therapy. European Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry 2024, 268: 116238. PMID: 38367492, DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116238.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDosimetry profileCancer-associated fibroblastsTumor uptakeClinical developmentEx vivo biodistribution analysisTumor-to-background contrast ratiosSustained tumor uptakeTumor-to-backgroundMarker of cancer-associated fibroblastsTumor-bearing miceRadiation absorbed doseWhole-body doseTumor lesionsTumor visualizationBiodistribution analysisTumor growthTumor modelPreclinical evaluationTumorPharmacokinetic profileTargeted radiopharmaceuticalsLutetium-177Peripheral tissuesPET imagingUptake ratioUnnatural amino acid substitutions to improve in vivo stability and tumor uptake of 68Ga-labeled GRPR-targeted TacBOMB2 derivatives for cancer imaging with positron emission tomography
Wang L, Kuo H, Zhang Z, Zhang C, Chen C, Chapple D, Wilson R, Colpo N, François Bénard, Lin K. Unnatural amino acid substitutions to improve in vivo stability and tumor uptake of 68Ga-labeled GRPR-targeted TacBOMB2 derivatives for cancer imaging with positron emission tomography. EJNMMI Radiopharmacy And Chemistry 2024, 9: 8. PMID: 38305955, PMCID: PMC10837402, DOI: 10.1186/s41181-024-00241-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGastrin-releasing peptide receptorTumor uptakeIn vivo stabilityTumor retentionAmino acid substitutionsTumor-to-background contrastFewer side effectsLong tumor retentionExcellent tumor uptakeAcid substitutionsPositron emission tomographyPeptide-based radiopharmaceuticalsAgonist tracersBinding to receptorsGastrin releasing peptide receptor binding affinitySolid tumorsCancer lesionsTumorSide effectsTreatment efficacyPeptide receptorAgonist characteristicsEmission tomographyAgonistsTherapeutic target
2023
Lys-urea-Aad, Lys-urea-Cmc and Lys-urea-Cms as potential pharmacophores for the design of PSMA-targeted radioligands to reduce off-target uptake in kidneys and salivary glands
Kuo H, Zhang Z, Zhang C, Merkens H, Tan R, Wong A, Uribe C, Bénard F, Lin K. Lys-urea-Aad, Lys-urea-Cmc and Lys-urea-Cms as potential pharmacophores for the design of PSMA-targeted radioligands to reduce off-target uptake in kidneys and salivary glands. Theranostics 2023, 13: 4559-4573. PMID: 37649602, PMCID: PMC10465233, DOI: 10.7150/thno.87663.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPSMA-targeting radioligandsLNCaP tumor-bearing miceSalivary gland uptakeTumor-bearing miceSalivary glandsBiodistribution studiesProstate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radioligandsConclusions:LNCaP prostate cancer cellsQuarter doseResults:LNCaP tumor uptakeLNCaP tumor xenograftsProstate cancer cellsPost-injectionToxicity to kidneyOff-target uptakeMedian survivalTumor uptakeTumor xenograftsAlbumin-binding moietyLNCaPTherapy studiesSPECT imagesCancer cellsSynthesis and Evaluation of 99mTc-Labeled PSMA-Targeted Tracers Based on the Lys-Urea-Aad Pharmacophore for Detecting Prostate Cancer with Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
Lu K, Zhang C, Zhang Z, Kuo H, Colpo N, Bénard F, Lin K. Synthesis and Evaluation of 99mTc-Labeled PSMA-Targeted Tracers Based on the Lys-Urea-Aad Pharmacophore for Detecting Prostate Cancer with Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography. Molecules 2023, 28: 5120. PMID: 37446782, PMCID: PMC10343272, DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProstate-specific membrane antigenPSMA-targeting tracersTumor-to-background contrast ratiosSalivary glandsAverage tumor uptakeLNCaP tumor-bearing miceSingle photon emission computed tomographyLNCaP tumor xenograftsProstate cancer lesionsEx vivo biodistribution studiesPhoton emission computed tomographyTumor-bearing miceProstate cancer markerEmission Computed TomographyOff-target uptakeLys-urea-GluPSMA-targetedProstate cancerMembrane antigenTumor uptakeTumor xenograftsComputed tomographyCancer lesionsSPECT imagesRenal pathwayMultimodality Imaging of Aortic Valve Calcification and Function in a Murine Model of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease and Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Ahmad A, Ghim M, Toczek J, Neishabouri A, Ojha D, Zhang Z, Gona K, Raza M, Jung J, Kukreja G, Zhang J, Guerrera N, Liu C, Sadeghi M. Multimodality Imaging of Aortic Valve Calcification and Function in a Murine Model of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease and Bicuspid Aortic Valve. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2023, 64: 1487-1494. PMID: 37321825, PMCID: PMC10478817, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.123.265516.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsF-NaF PET/CTCalcific aortic valve diseaseBicuspid aortic valvePET/CTAortic valve calcificationAortic valve diseaseAortic valveAortic stenosisValve calcificationValvular calcificationValve diseaseF-NaFSubset of miceTricuspid aortic valveDevelopment of calcificationSignificant correlationUnderwent echocardiographyMedical therapyHigh prevalencePreclinical modelsMurine modelTherapeutic interventionsAge groupsAutoradiography dataMultimodality imagingSynthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of Novel 68Ga-Labeled (R)-Pyrrolidin-2-yl-boronic Acid-Based PET Tracers for Fibroblast Activation Protein-Targeted Cancer Imaging
Bendre S, Kuo H, Merkens H, Zhang Z, Wong A, Bénard F, Lin K. Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of Novel 68Ga-Labeled (R)-Pyrrolidin-2-yl-boronic Acid-Based PET Tracers for Fibroblast Activation Protein-Targeted Cancer Imaging. Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16: 798. PMID: 37375746, PMCID: PMC10303363, DOI: 10.3390/ph16060798.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGa complexesFibroblast activation proteinTumor uptakePreclinical evaluationTherapy of carcinomaTumor-bearing miceHigh tumor uptakeBinding affinityCancer imagingRadioligand therapyTumor visualizationLigandPreclinical studiesNormal organsStromal fibroblastsRenal excretionHuman carcinomasBiodistribution studiesPET imagingPET tracersUptake ratio