Biological reduction and intracellular trapping differences of (188)Re(VII) and (99)Tc(m)(VII) in Escherichia coli

(99)Tc(m) is the most commonly used diagnostic radioisotope. And (188)Re is an excellent therapeutic radioisotope with a gamma photon for imaging. Both locate in the same group and have very similar properties. (99)Tc(m)(VII) can be partially reduced to a black insoluble precipitate by aerobic cultures of Escherichia coli, and trapped intracellularly. However, (188)Re(VII) cannot be reduced and trapped, because of its lower oxidizing power of perrhenate as compared with pertechnetate or other reasons.