Concussion Diagnostics: A New Diagnostic Approach Using PET Technology

Concussions are an increasingly significant issue today. However, there is still no single standard, objective criterion for diagnosing them. An objective test with high sensitivity and specificity for concussions would provide a substantial advance in concussion diagnostics, aiding the prognosis, treatment, and medical decision-making regarding the disorder. To fill this void in concussion diagnostic techniques, a specifically designed small-molecule 18 F-radiotracer capable of binding to a biomarker of neuronal trauma was synthesized. Techniques including virtual screening, indirect radiolabeling, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and cell-based assays were combined to develop a promising 18 F-radiotracer to target the well-studied neuronal trauma biomarker, S100B with an EC 50 value with a 95% confidence interval of 10–47 nM. The developed tracer also demonstrated concentration-dependent binding to S100B in a concussion cell model. This work brings the medical community one step closer to a more objective and sensitive test for mild traumatic brain injuries like concussions, which will substantially improve diagnostics, prognosis, treatment, and medical decision-making.