DTPA is a cell-impermeable metal chelating agent.^1,2It chelates copper, iron, zinc, and manganese, as well as calcium, magnesium, and plutonium.^1,3DTPA has been used as a metal chelating agent in the study of ferroptosis.⁴It reduces the skeletal plutonium burden and incidence of bone tumors, as well as increases survival in a mouse model of intravenous plutonium exposure when administered at a dose of 500 mg/kg.³Formulations containing DTPA conjugated to radioactive compounds have been used as diagnostic agents for brain imaging, renal visualization, and lung imaging.

1.Arts, J., Bade, S., Badrinas, M., et al.Should DTPA, an Aminocarboxylic acid (ethylenediamine-based) chelating agent, be considered a developmental toxicant?Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol.97197-208(2018) 2.Killilea, D.W., Atamna, H., Liao, C., et al.Iron accumulation during cellular senescence in human fibroblasts in vitroAntioxid. Redox Signal.5(5)507-516(2003) 3.Osenthal, M.W., and Lindenbaum, A.Influence of DTPA therapy on long-term effects of retained monomeric plutonium: Comparison with polymeric plutoniumRadiat. Res.31(3)506-521(1967) 4.Wenzel, S.E., Tyurina, Y.Y., Zhao, J., et al.PEBP1 wardens ferroptosis by enabling lipoxygenase generation of lipid death signalsCell171(3)628-641(2017)