Production of $[^{18}F]F_2$ Gas for Electrophilic Substitution Reaction

친전자성 치환반응을 위한 $[^{18}F]F_2$ Gas의 생산 연구

  • Moon, Byung-Seok (Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences(KIRAMS)) ;
  • Kim, Jae-Hong (Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences(KIRAMS)) ;
  • Lee, Kyo-Chul (Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences(KIRAMS)) ;
  • An, Gwang-Il (Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences(KIRAMS)) ;
  • Cheon, Gi-Jeong (Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences(KIRAMS)) ;
  • Chun, Kwon-Soo (Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences(KIRAMS))
  • 문병석 (원자력의학원 RI 및 방사성의약품개발실) ;
  • 김재홍 (원자력의학원 RI 및 방사성의약품개발실) ;
  • 이교철 (원자력의학원 RI 및 방사성의약품개발실) ;
  • 안광일 (원자력의학원 RI 및 방사성의약품개발실) ;
  • 천기정 (원자력의학원 RI 및 방사성의약품개발실) ;
  • 전권수 (원자력의학원 RI 및 방사성의약품개발실)
  • Published : 2006.08.31

Abstract

Purpose: electrophilic $^{18}F(T_{1/2}=110\;min)$ radionuclide in the form of $[^{18}F]F_2$ gas is of great significance for labeling radiopharmaceuticals for positron omission tomography (PET). However, its production In high yield and with high specific radioactivity is still a challenge to overcome several problems on targetry. The aim of the present study was to develop a method suitable for the routine production of $[^{18}F]F_2$ for the electrophilic substitution reaction. Materials and Methods: The target was designed water-cooled aluminum target chamber system with a conical bore shape. Production of the elemental fluorine was carried out via the $^{18}O(p,n)^{18}F$ reaction using a two-step irradiation protocol. In the first irradiation, the target filled with highly enriched $^{18}O_2$ was irradiated with protons for $^{18}F$ production, which were adsorbed on the inner surface of target body. In the second irradiation, the mixed gas ($1%[^{19}F]F_2/Ar$) was leaded into the target chamber, fellowing a short irradiation of proton for isotopic exchange between the carrier-fluorine and the radiofluorine absorbed in the target chamber. Optimization of production was performed as the function of irradiation time, the beam current and $^{18}O_2$ loading pressure. Results: Production runs was performed under the following optimum conditions: The 1st irradiation for the nuclear reaction (15.0 bar of 97% enriched $^{18}O_2$, 13.2 MeV protons, 30 ${\mu}A$, 60-90 min irradiation), the recovery of enriched oxygen via cryogenic pumping; The 2nd irradiation for the recovery of absorbed radiofluorine (12.0 bar of 1% $[^{19}F]fluorine/argon$ gas, 13.2 MeV protons, 30 ${\mu}A$, 20-30 min irradiation) the recovery of $[^{18}F]fluorine$ for synthesis. The yield of $[^{18}F]fluorine$ at EOB (end of bombardment) was achieved around $34{\pm}6.0$ GBq (n>10). Conclusion: The production of $^{18}F$ electrophilic agent via $^{18}O(p,n)^{18}F$ reaction was much under investigation. Especially, an aluminum gas target was very advantageous for routine production of $[^{18}F]fluorine$. These results suggest the possibility to use $[^{18}F]F_2$ gas as a electrophilic substitution agent.

목적 : $[^{18}F]F_2\;(T_{1/2}=110\;min)$ 기체를 이용하여 친전자성 치환반응으로 방사성동위원소 $^{18}F$을 표지하는 방법은 새로운 앙전자방출단층촬영용 방사성의약품 개발 분야에서 유용하게 이용되고 있다. 그림에도 불구하고 $[^{18}F]F_2$를 높은 생산수율과 비방사능으로 생산하기 위한 표적 개발 연구는 아직도 진행 중에 있다. 본 연구에서는 친핵성 치환반응으로 $^{18}F$을 도입하기 어려운 방사성의약품에 친전자성 치환반응으로 방사성동위원소를 도입할 수 있는 $[^{18}F]F_2$ 가스의 효율적인 생산에 관해 연구하였다. 대상 및 방법: 표적은 원추형 모양의 알루미늄 재질로 제작하였다. $[^{18}F]F_2$ 생산을 위한 핵반응으로 $^{18}O(p,n)^{18}F$를 사용하였으며, two-step 빔 조사방법을 이용하였다. 첫 번째 조사는 농축 $[^{18}O]O_2$가스를 표적에 충진한 후 빔 조사하여 $^{18}O(p,n)^{18}F$ 핵반응을 일으킴으로써 $^{18}F$를 생산한다. 생산된 $^{18}F$은 표적 챔버 기벽에 흡착된다. $[^{18}O]O_2$은 재사용을 위하여 냉각포획법으로 회수하였으며, $^{18}F$를 회수하기 위해 $[^{19}F]F_2/Ar$ 가스를 충진한 후, 두 번째 빔을 조사하여 방사성불소를 회수하는 방법으로 구성된다. 본 연구에서는 최적의 방사성불소 생산 조건을 찾기 위해 빔 조사 시간, 빔 전류 세기 농축 $[^{18}O]O_2$ 충진 압력 등의 변화에 따라 생산량을 평가하였다. 결과: 빔 조사 시간, 빔 전류, 농축 $[^{18}O]O_2$ 충진 압력 등의 조건을 변화시키면서 생산량을 평가한 결과 최적의 빔 조사 조건은 다음과 같다. 첫 번째 조사: 농축 $[^{18}O]O_2$을 약 15.0 bar충진, 13.2 MeV, 30 ${\mu}A$로 60-90분 조사; 두 번째 조사: 1% $[^{19}F]F_2/Ar$혼합가스 12.0 bar 충진, 13.2 MeV, 30 ${\mu}A$로 20-30분 조사 후 아르곤 가스로 회수하였을 때 EOB(end of bombardment) 기준으로 약 $34{\pm}6.0$ GBq(n>10)의 $[^{18}F]F_2$를 얻었다. 결론: $^{18}O(p,n)^{18}F$ 핵반응을 이용하여 친전자성 방사성동위원소 $[^{18}F]F_2$를 생산하였다. 표적 챔버는 알루미늄으로 제작하였으며 본 연구에서 연구된 $[^{18}F]F_2$가스는 친핵성 치환반응으로 방사성동위원소를 도입하기 어려운 다양한 방사성의 약품개발에 유용하게 이용될 수 있을 것이다.

Keywords

References

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