The biomedical chemistry of technetium and rhenium

This review describes recent developments in the chemistry of both first and second generation 99m-technetium-based imaging agents. The material is presented according to the biological target for the agent, and where possible actual images are presented to indicate the type of information available to the clinician. Beta emitting isotopes of rhenium offer a possible method for the in situ treatment of cancerous tissue using analogous targeting strategies to those for technetium. Recent developments in the relevant coordination chemistry of rhenium and their extension to in vitro and in vivo studies are presented.