Editing Gallium (section)

===Biomedical applications===
Although gallium has no natural function in biology, gallium ions interact with processes in the body in a manner similar to [[Ferric#Ferric iron and life|iron(III)]]. Because these processes include [[inflammation]], a marker for many disease states, several gallium salts are used (or are in development) as [[pharmaceutical drug|pharmaceuticals]] and [[radiopharmacology|radiopharmaceuticals]] in medicine. Interest in the anticancer properties of gallium emerged when it was discovered that <sup>67</sup>Ga(III) citrate injected in tumor-bearing animals localized to sites of tumor. Clinical trials have shown gallium nitrate to have antineoplastic activity against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and urothelial cancers. A new generation of gallium-ligand complexes such as tris(8-quinolinolato)gallium(III) (KP46) and gallium maltolate has emerged.<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1515/9783110470734-016 |chapter=16. Copper Complexes in Cancer Therapy |title=Metallo-Drugs: Development and Action of Anticancer Agents |date=2018 |last1=Denoyer |first1=Delphine |last2=Clatworthy |first2=Sharnel A. S. |last3=Cater |first3=Michael A. |series=Metal Ions in Life Sciences |volume=18 |pages=469–506 |pmid=29394029 |isbn=978-3-11-047073-4 }}</ref> [[Gallium nitrate]] (brand name Ganite) has been used as an intravenous pharmaceutical to treat [[hypercalcemia]] associated with tumor [[metastasis]] to bones. Gallium is thought to interfere with [[osteoclast]] function, and the therapy may be effective when other treatments have failed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CDG/content/CDG_gallium_nitrate.asp |title=gallium nitrate |url-status=dead |access-date=7 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608234315/http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CDG/content/CDG_gallium_nitrate.asp |archive-date=8 June 2009}}</ref> [[Gallium maltolate]], an oral, highly absorbable form of gallium(III) ion, is an anti-proliferative to pathologically proliferating cells, particularly cancer cells and some bacteria that accept it in place of ferric iron (Fe<sup>3+</sup>). Researchers are conducting clinical and preclinical trials on this compound as a potential treatment for a number of cancers, infectious diseases, and inflammatory diseases.<ref>{{cite journal|author= Bernstein, L. R.|author2= Tanner, T.|author3= Godfrey, C.|author4= Noll, B.|name-list-style= amp |title= Chemistry and Pharmacokinetics of Gallium Maltolate, a Compound With High Oral Gallium Bioavailability|journal= Metal-Based Drugs|date= 2000|volume= 7 |issue= 1 |pmid= 18475921|pmc= 2365198 |doi= 10.1155/MBD.2000.33|pages= 33–47|doi-access= free}}</ref>

When gallium ions are mistakenly taken up in place of iron(III) by bacteria such as ''[[Pseudomonas]]'', the ions interfere with respiration, and the bacteria die. This happens because iron is redox-active, allowing the transfer of electrons during respiration, while gallium is redox-inactive.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.infoniac.com/health-fitness/trojan-gallium.html|title= A Trojan-horse strategy selected to fight bacteria|date= 16 March 2007|publisher= INFOniac.com |access-date= 20 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/tb/5266|title= Gallium May Have Antibiotic-Like Properties|first= Michael|last= Smith|publisher= MedPage Today|date= 16 March 2007|access-date= 20 November 2008}}</ref>

A complex [[amine]]-[[phenol]] Ga(III) compound MR045 is selectively toxic to parasites resistant to [[chloroquine]], a common drug against [[malaria]]. Both the Ga(III) complex and chloroquine act by inhibiting crystallization of [[hemozoin]], a disposal product formed from the digestion of blood by the parasites.<ref>{{cite journal|pmid=9045684|journal=J. Biol. Chem. |date=1997 |volume=272|issue=10|pages=6567–72|title= Probing the chloroquine resistance locus of Plasmodium falciparum with a novel class of multidentate metal(III) coordination complexes|author=Goldberg D. E.|author2= Sharma V.|author3=Oksman A.|author4=Gluzman I. Y.|author5=Wellems T. E.|author6=Piwnica-Worms D.|doi=10.1074/jbc.272.10.6567|s2cid=3408513 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-13185-1_7|chapter=Bioorganometallic Chemistry and Malaria|title=Medicinal Organometallic Chemistry|series=Topics in Organometallic Chemistry|date=2010|last1=Biot|first1=Christophe|last2=Dive|first2=Daniel|isbn=978-3-642-13184-4|volume=32|page=155|s2cid=85940061}}</ref>

====Radiogallium salts====
[[Gallium-67]] [[Salt (chemistry)|salts]] such as gallium [[citrate]] and gallium [[nitrate]] are used as [[radiopharmaceutical]] agents in the [[nuclear medicine]] imaging known as [[gallium scan]]. The [[radionuclide|radioactive isotope]] <sup>67</sup>Ga is used, and the compound or salt of gallium is unimportant. The body handles Ga<sup>3+</sup> in many ways as though it were Fe<sup>3+</sup>, and the ion is bound (and concentrates) in areas of inflammation, such as infection, and in areas of rapid cell division. This allows such sites to be imaged by nuclear scan techniques.<ref name="Nordberg" />

[[Gallium-68]], a positron emitter with a half-life of 68 min, is now used as a diagnostic radionuclide in PET-CT when linked to pharmaceutical preparations such as [[DOTATOC]], a [[somatostatin]] analogue used for [[neuroendocrine tumors]] investigation, and [[DOTA-TATE]], a newer one, used for neuroendocrine [[metastasis]] and lung neuroendocrine cancer, such as certain types of ''[[microcytoma]]''. Gallium-68's preparation as a pharmaceutical is chemical, and the radionuclide is extracted by [[elution]] from germanium-68, a [[synthetic radioisotope]] of [[germanium]], in [[gallium-68 generator]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Banerjee |first1=Sangeeta Ray |last2=Pomper |first2=Martin G. |date=June 2013 |title=Clinical Applications of Gallium-68 |pmc=3664132 |journal=Appl. Radiat. Isot. |volume=76 |pages=2–13 |doi=10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.01.039 |pmid=23522791|bibcode=2013AppRI..76....2B }}</ref>