Automated production of several positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals using a single laboratory robot

• Published in: International journal of radiation applications and instrumentation. Part A, Applied radiation and isotopes Vol. 39; no. 7; pp. 689 - 698
• Main Authors: Brodack, James W., Kilbourn, Michael R., Welch, Michael J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 1988
• Subjects: Fluorine Radioisotopes; Robotics; Tomography, Emission-Computed
• ISSN: 0883-2889
• DOI: 10.1016/0883-2889(88)90059-7

A Zymate Laboratory Automation System (Zymark Corp.), previously set up for the automated synthesis of 16α-[ 18F]fluoroestradiol-17⨿ [Brodack et al. (1986a) J. Nucl. Med. 27, 714] has been modified for the production of several short-lived radiopharmaceuticals in a single hot cell. All manipulations and apparatus normally used in the syntheses of carbon-11 and fluorine-18-labeled radiopharmaceuticals have been incorporated into the robot system. This achievement permits facile modifications of existing procedures used by the robot in addition to the incorporation of new routines in a minimal amount of time. Currently, the Zymate robot is programmed for the routine production of 16α-[ 18F]fluoroestradiol-17⨿ (7–11% EOS in 80 min), N-(3-[ 18F]fluoropropyl)spiperone (15–18% EOS in 70 min), and [1- 11C]butanol (11–15% EOS in 25 min). A fourth compound, 2-deoxy-2-[ 18F]fluoro-D-glucose, is also synthesized by the robot. The yields and synthesis times of the robot-produced compounds are comparable to those obtained during manual syntheses. This method of automation represents a flexible and versatile alternative for the routine production of radiopharmaceuticals used in PET studies.