Synthesis and evaluation of (S)-2-(2-[18F]fluoroethoxy)-4-([3-methyl-1-(2-piperidin-1-yl-phenyl)-butyl-carbamoyl]-methyl)-benzoic acid ([18F]repaglinide): a promising radioligand for quantification of pancreatic β-cell mass with positron emission tomography (PET)

18F-labeled non-sulfonylurea hypoglycemic agent (S)-2-(2-[(18)F]fluoroethoxy)-4-((3-methyl-1-(2-piperidin-1-yl-phenyl)-butylcarbamoyl)-methyl)-benzoic acid ([(18)F]repaglinide), a derivative of the sulfonylurea-receptor (SUR) ligand repaglinide, was synthesized as a potential tracer for the non-invasive investigation of the sulfonylurea 1 receptor status of pancreatic beta-cells by positron emission tomography (PET) in the context of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. [(18)F]Repaglinide could be obtained in an overall radiochemical yield (RCY) of 20% after 135 min with a radiochemical purity higher than 98% applying the secondary labeling precursor 2-[(18)F]fluoroethyltosylate. Specific activity w…

Efficient synthesis of 2-bromo-1-[18F]fluoroethane and its application in the automated preparation of 18F-fluoroethylated compounds

An efficient synthesis of 2-bromo-1-[18F]fluoroethane from commercially available 1,2-dibromoethane and its integration into an automated preparation device was developed for the routine synthesis of 18F-fluoroethylated compounds. The 1,2-dibromoethane was reacted with the [18F]fluoride/Kryptofix 2.2.2./carbonate complex in acetonitrile at 70 degrees C for 3 min resulting in 60-70% radiochemical yields. The crude reaction mixture was diluted with water, loaded on a LiChrolute EN-cartridge, eluted with acetonitrile and passed through an AluminaB-cartridge. This method provides 2-bromo-1-[18F]fluoroethane with 98% radiochemical purity and <0.1 micromol of 1,2-dibromoethane within 10 min, thus…

Improved automated synthesis of [18F]fluoroethylcholine as a radiotracer for cancer imaging.

[(18)F]Fluoroethylcholine has been recently introduced as a promising (18)F-labelled analogue of [(11)C]choline which had been previously described as a tracer for metabolic cancer imaging with positron emission tomography (PET). Due to the practical advantages of using the longer-lived radioisotope (18)F (t(1/2)=110 min), offering the opportunity of a more widespread clinical application, we established a reliable, fully automated synthesis for its production using a modified, commercially available module. [(18)F]Fluoroethylcholine was prepared from N,N-dimethylaminoethanol by iodide catalyzed alkylation with 1-[(18)F]fluoro-2-tosylethane as alkylating agent, resulting in a total radioche…

Synthesis, labelling and evaluation of hydantoin-substituted indole carboxylic acids as potential ligands for positron emission tomography imaging of the glycine binding site of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor

The N-methyl- d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor as a type of ionotropic glutamatergic receptors is essential for physiological processes such as learning, memory and synaptic plasticity. A glutamate-induced overactivation of these receptors, accompanied by increased intracellular calcium concentration, causes cell injury and leads to a large number of acute or chronic neurological disorders, such as stroke, trauma, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. In an attempt to visualise the glutamatergic neurotransmission in vivo with positron emission tomography, novel fluoroethoxy- and methoxy-substituted reference compounds based on the lead structure of a hydantoin-substituted indole-2-carboxy…

High opiate receptor binding potential in the human lateral pain system

To determine how opiate receptor distribution is co-localized with the distribution of nociceptive areas in the human brain, eleven male healthy volunteers underwent one PET scan with the subtype-nonselective opioidergic radioligand [(18)F]fluoroethyl-diprenorphine under resting conditions. The binding potential (BP), a parameter for the regional cerebral opioid receptor availability, was computed using the occipital cortex as reference region. The following regions of interest (ROIs) were defined on individual MR images: thalamus, sensory motor strip (SI/MI area), frontal operculum, parietal operculum, anterior insular cortex, posterior insular cortex, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC; peri-…

Preliminary assessment of the imaging capability of the YAP–(S)PET small animal scanner in neuroscience

The new and fully engineered version of the YAP–(S)PET small animal scanner has been tested at the University of Mainz for preliminary assessment of its imaging capability for studies related to neuropharmacology and psychiatry. The main feature of the scanner is the capability to combine PET and SPECT techniques. It allows the development of new and interesting protocols for the investigation of many biological phenomena, more effectively than with PET or SPECT modalities alone. The scanner is made up of four detector heads, each one composed of a 4 � 4c m 2 of YAlO3:Ce (or YAP:Ce) matrix, and has a field of view (FOV) of 4 cm axially � 4c m + transaxially. In PET mode, the volume resoluti…

Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of (R,R)(S,S) 5-(2-(2-[4-(2-[18F]fluoroethoxy)phenyl]-1-methylethylamino)-1-hydroxyethyl)-benzene-1,3-diol ([18F]FEFE) for the in vivo visualisation and quantification of the β2-adrenergic receptor status in lung

The 18 F-labeled b2-adrenergic receptor ligand (R,R)(S,S) 5-(2-(2-(4-(2-( 18 F)fluoroethoxy)phenyl)-1-methylethylamino)-1- hydroxyethyl)-benzene-1,3-diol, a derivative of the original highly selective racemic fenoterol, was synthesized in an overall radio- chemical yield of 20% after 65 min with a radiochemical purity higher than 98%. The specific activity was in the range of 50-60 GBq/mmol. In vitro testing of the non-radioactive fluorinated fenoterol derivative with isolated guinea pig trachea was conducted to obtain an IC50 value of 60 nM. Preliminary ex vivo organ distribution and in vivo experiments with positron emission tomography (PET) on guinea pigs were performed to study the biod…

Automated synthesis and purification of [18F]fluoro-[di-deutero]methyl tosylate

Automated synthetic procedures of [ 18 F]fluoro-[di-deutero]methyl tosylate on a GE TRACERlab FX F-N module and a non-commercial synthesis module have been developed. The syntheses included azeotropic drying of the [ 18 F]fluoride, nucleophilic 18 F-fluorination of bis(tosyloxy)-[di-deutero]methane, HPLC purification and subsequent formulation of the synthesized [ 18 F]fluoro-[di-deutero]methyl tosylate (d2-[ 18 F]FMT) in organic solvents. Automation shortened the total synthesis time to 50min, resulting in an average radiochemical yield of about 50% and high radiochemical purity (>98%). The possible application of this procedure to commercially available synthesis modules might be of signi…

Produktion von PET-Radiopharmaka für den klinischen Gebrauch am Beispiel des MVZ-DTZ Berlin

PET-Radiopharmaka gehoren heute zum Repertoire der modernen Nuklearmedizin, auch wenn die Verfugbarkeit dieser Verbindungen fur den niedergelassenen Nuklearmediziner in mehrfacher Hinsicht auserordentlich eingeschrankt ist. Die Verfugbarkeit wird mit dem Inkrafttreten der 15. Novelle des AMG neu geregelt. Durch das Wegfallen des ehemaligen § 4a Satz 1 Nr. 3 fallen Herstellung und Anwendung dieser Praparationen nun unter den Geltungsbereich des AMG und die damit verbundenen Tatigkeiten sind nach § 67 Abs. 2 bei der zustandigen Genehmigungsbehorde anzeigepflichtig. Aus der geschilderten Situation ergibt sich die Notwendigkeit der Entwicklung einer Eigenherstellung von Radiopharmaka unter Prax…

High opiate receptor binding potential in the human lateral pain system: A (FEDPN)PET study

Efficient synthesis of 2-bromo-1-[18F]fluoroethane and its application in the automated preparation of 18F-fluoroethylated radiopharmaceuticals

An efficient synthesis of 2-bromo-1-[18F]fluoroethane from commercially available 1,2-dibromoethane and its integration into an automated preparation device was developed for the routine synthesis of 18F-fluoroethylated radiopharmaceuticals. The precursor 1,2-dibromoethane was reacted with the [18F]fluoride/Kryptofix®2.2.2./carbonate-complex in acetonitrile at 70°C for 3 minutes. The crude reaction mixture was diluted with water, loaded on a LiChrolute ®EN-cartridge, eluated with acetonitrile and passed through an Alumina ®B-cartridge. The method can provide 2-bromo-1-[18F]fluoroethane with 98% radiochemical purity completely free of 1, 2-dibromoethan within 10 min, thus avoiding a purifyin…