자동합성장치에 따른 $^{18}F$-FDG의 방사선분해 평가

Radiolysis Assessment of $^{18}F$-FDG According to Automatic Synthesis Module

상용화된 자동합성장치는 사용되는 유기용매의 종류가 다르고 합성수율에 차이를 보인다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 자동합성장치에 따른 $^{18}F$-FDG의 방사선분해에 관한 방사화학적순도 변화를 비교하였다. Cyclotron (PETtrace, GE Healthcare)을 사용하여 $^{18}F$를 생산하고, 자동합성장치(FASTlab, Tracerlab MX, GE Healthcare)를 이용하여 FDG로 합성하였다. 방사화화적순도는 Radio-TLC Scanner (AR 2000, Bioscan), GC(Gas Chromatography, Agilent 7890A)를 사용하여 $^{18}F$-FDG에 함유되어 있는 에탄올의 양을 측정하였다. 고정상은 실리카겔로 도포된 유리판($1{\times}10cm$), 이동상은 아세토니트릴과 물 19:1 혼합액을 사용하고, 각각의 합성장치에서 고농도와 저농도의 $^{18}F$-FDG를 생산 후 2시간 간격으로 방사화학적순도를 측정하였다. 저농도 (약 2.59 GBq/mL 이하)에서 순도변화는 Tracerlab MX에서는 99.26%, 98.69%, 98.25%, 98.09%, FASTlab에서는 99.09%, 97.83, 96.89%, 96.62%를 얻었다. 고농도(약 3.7 GBq/mL 이상)에서 순도변화는 Tracerlab MX에서는 평균 99.54%, 96.08%, 93.77%, 92.54%, FASTlab의 경우 99.53%, 95.65%, 92.39%, 89.82%를 얻었다. 그리고 FASTlab에서 생산한 $^{18}F$-FDG의 GC에서는 에탄올이 검출되지 않았으며, Tracerlab MX에서는 100~300 ppm의 에탄올이 검출되었다. 이러한 결과를 비추어 봤을 때 방사선 보호제인 에탄올의 유무보다 방사능농도가 방사선분해에 더 큰 영향을 미치기 때문에 고농도의 $^{18}F$-FDG 생산 후 무균 생리식염수로 희석하여 농도를 낮춘 후 사용해야 한다.

Purpose : Among quality control items, the radiochemical impurity must be below 10% of total radioactivity. In this regard, as the recently commercialized automatic synthesis module produces a large amount of 18F-FDG, radiolysis of radiopharmaceuticals is very likely to occur. Thus, this study compared the changes in radiochemical purity regarding radiolysis of $^{18}F$-FDG according to automatic synthesis module. Materials and methods : Cyclotron (PETtrace, GE Healthcare) was used to produce $^{18}F$ and automatic synthesis module (FASTlab, Tracerlab MX, GE Healthcare) was used to achieve synthesis into FDG. For radiochemical purity, Radio-TLC Scanner (AR 2000, Bioscan), GC (Gas Chromatograph, Agilent 7890A) was used to measure the content of ethanol included in $^{18}F$-FDG. Glass board applied with silica gel ($1{\times}10cm$) was used for stationary phase while a mixed liquid formed of acetonitrile and water (ratio 19:1) was used for mobile phase. High-concentration and low-concentration $^{18}F$-FDG were produced in each synthesis module and the radiochemical purity was measured every 2 hours. Results : The purity in low-concentration (below 2.59 GBq/mL) was measured as 99.26%, 98.69%, 98.25%, 98.09% in Tracerlab MX and as 99.09%, 97.83%, 96.89%, 96.62% in FASTlab according to 0, 2, 4, 6 hours changes, respectively. The purity in high-concentration (above 3.7 GBq/mL) was measured as 99.54%, 96.08%, 93.77%, 92.54% in Tracerlab MX and as 99.53%, 95.65%, 92.39%, 89.82% in FASTlab according to 0, 2, 4, 6 hours changes, respectively. Also, ethanol was not detected in GC of $^{18}F$-FDG produced in FASTlab, while 100~300 ppm ethanol was detected in Tracerlab MX. Conclusion : Whereas the change of radiochemical purity was only 3% in low-concentration $^{18}F$-FDG, the change was rapidly increased to 10% in high-concentration. Also, higher radiolysis were observed in $^{18}F$-FDG produced in FASTlab than Tracerlab MX. This is because ethanol is included in the synthesis stage of Tracerlab MX but not in the synthesis stage of FASTlab. Thus, radiolysis is influenced by radioactivity concentration than the inclusion of ethanol, which is the radioprotector. Therefore, after producing high-concentration $^{18}F$-FDG, the content must be diluted through saline to lower concentration.