Zhengxing Zhang, PhD
Associate Research ScientistCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Development 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, jnumed.125.269933. PMID: 41611474, 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
Molecular Imaging of Collagen Turnover in Myocardial Infarction
Neishabouri A, Ghim M, Ahmad A, Kukreja G, Zhang Z, Li J, Salarian M, Toczek J, Gona K, Hedayatyanfard K, Zhang J, Huang H, Yu S, Sadeghi M. Molecular Imaging of Collagen Turnover in Myocardial Infarction. Journal Of Nuclear Cardiology 2024, 38: 101998. DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclcard.2024.101998.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSynthesis 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
P-176 Effects of linker and binding motif modifications on tumor uptake and distribution of 99mTc-labeled HYNIC-based PSMA-targeting SPECT tracers
Lu K, Zhang C, Zhang Z, Merkens H, Wilson R, Colpo N, Benard F, Lin K. P-176 Effects of linker and binding motif modifications on tumor uptake and distribution of 99mTc-labeled HYNIC-based PSMA-targeting SPECT tracers. Nuclear Medicine And Biology 2023, 126: 108644. DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2023.108644.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchP-119 Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of Three Novel 68Ga-labeled PSMA-FAP Heterodimeric Tracers for Imaging of Prostate Cancer
Wang L, Verena A, Zhang Z, Kuo H, Merkens H, Zeisler J, Wilson R, Bendre S, Wong A, Benard F, Lin K. P-119 Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of Three Novel 68Ga-labeled PSMA-FAP Heterodimeric Tracers for Imaging of Prostate Cancer. Nuclear Medicine And Biology 2023, 126: 108589. DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2023.108589.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchP-127 Stabilization of 68Ga-labeled [Thz14]Bombesin(7–14) analogue for imaging gastrin-releasing peptide receptor expression with positron emission tomography
Wang L, Kuo H, Zhang Z, Zhang C, Merkens H, Colpo N, Wilson R, Zeisler J, Tan R, Benard F, Lin K. P-127 Stabilization of 68Ga-labeled [Thz14]Bombesin(7–14) analogue for imaging gastrin-releasing peptide receptor expression with positron emission tomography. Nuclear Medicine And Biology 2023, 126: 108597. DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2023.108597.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchP-037 Synthesis and evaluation of an 18F-labeled PSMA-targeting tracer for imaging prostate cancer with positron emission tomography
Lu K, Zhang C, Zhang Z, Merkens H, Wilson R, Colpo N, Benard F, Lin K. P-037 Synthesis and evaluation of an 18F-labeled PSMA-targeting tracer for imaging prostate cancer with positron emission tomography. Nuclear Medicine And Biology 2023, 126: 108510. DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2023.108510.Peer-Reviewed Original Research