Lidia Matesic

Ascertaining the Suitability of Aryl Sulfonyl Fluorides for [18F]Radiochemistry Applications: A Systematic Investigation using Microfluidics

Optimization of [(18)F]radiolabeling conditions and subsequent stability analysis in mobile phase, PBS buffer, and rat serum of 12 aryl sulfonyl chloride precursors with various substituents (electron-withdrawing groups, electron-donating groups, increased steric bulk, heterocyclic) were performed using an Advion NanoTek Microfluidic Synthesis System. A comparison of radiochemical yields and reaction times for a microfluidics device versus a conventional reaction vessel is reported. [(18)F]Radiolabeling of sulfonyl chlorides in the presence of competing nucleophiles, H-bond donors, and water was also assessed and demonstrated the versatility and potential utility of [(18)F]sulfonyl fluorides as synthons for indirect radiolabeling.

Optimization of nucleophilic 18F radiofluorinations using a microfluidic reaction approach

Microfluidic techniques are increasingly being used to synthesize positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals. Several reports demonstrate higher incorporation yields, with shorter reaction times and reduced amounts of reagents compared with traditional vessel-based techniques. Microfluidic techniques, therefore, have tremendous potential for allowing rapid and cost-effective optimization of new radiotracers. This protocol describes the implementation of a suitable microfluidic process to optimize classical 18F radiofluorination reactions by rationalizing the time and reagents used. Reaction optimization varies depending on the systems used, and it typically involves 5–10 experimental days of up to 4 h of sample collection and analysis. In particular, the protocol allows optimization of the key fluidic parameters in the first tier of experiments: reaction temperature, residence time and reagent ratio. Other parameters, such as solvent, activating agent and precursor concentration need to be stated before the experimental runs. Once the optimal set of parameters is found, repeatability and scalability are also tested in the second tier of experiments. This protocol allows the standardization of a microfluidic methodology that could be applied in any radiochemistry laboratory, in order to enable rapid and efficient radiosynthesis of new and existing [18F]-radiotracers. Here we show how this method can be applied to the radiofluorination optimization of [18F]-MEL050, a melanoma tumor imaging agent. This approach, if integrated into a good manufacturing practice (GMP) framework, could result in the reduction of materials and the time required to bring new radiotracers toward preclinical and clinical applications.

Hardware and software modifications on the Advion NanoTek microfluidic platform to extend flexibility for radiochemical synthesis.

Microfluidic systems are currently receiving a lot of attention in the PET radiochemistry field, due to their demonstrated ability to obtain higher incorporation yields with reduced total processing time and using a decreased amount of precursors. The Advion NanoTek LF was the first commercial microfluidic system available for radiochemistry that allows basic parameter optimization to be performed. In this paper we report hardware and software modifications that would allow better performing procedures, higher product throughput and flexibility to utilize the system. In particular, HPLC purification and SPE formulation have been fully integrated.

A new class of fluorinated 5-pyrrolidinylsulfonyl isatin caspase inhibitors for PET imaging of apoptosis

Thirteen compounds in a new class of fluorinated 5-pyrrolidinylsulfonyl isatin derivatives were synthesised that have potent and selective inhibitory activity against effector caspases-3 and -7. With in vivo animal PET imaging studies of cerebral ischemia being planned, N-benzylation with selected para-substituted benzylic halides allowed systematic variation of lipophilicity (logP 1.94–3.31) without decreasing inhibition potency (IC50). From this series the p-methoxybenzyl analogue was selected for initial ‘proof-of-concept’ [18F]-fluoride radiolabelling which proceeded in good yield and purity with no need for a protection/deprotection strategy.

Tolerance of Water in Microfluidic Radiofluorinations: A Potential Methodological Shift?

Nucleophilic [18F]-fluorination reactions traditionally include a drying step of the labeling agent in order to achieve a successful substitution. This passage extends the time and complexity required for the whole radiotracer production, with increased hardware and detrimental effects on the radioactive recovery of such a short-lived (t½=109 min) isotope. Because the performance of radiofluorination reactions conducted under microfluidic flow conditions have been demonstrated to be more effective in terms of reaction time and yields, we have tested the tolerance to water present in this specific reaction condition, in view of eliminating the drying step in the process. To this purpose, we tested different substrates selected from typical radiofluorination intermediates. Our results show that water could be tolerated in a microfluidic environment; in particular, we observed a slight decrease in the labeling of aromatic precursors and a significant increase for iodonium salts, whereas the radiochemical yields of the other compounds studied were virtually unchanged. These findings may open the way to the possibility of simpler and faster processes for the production of new 18F-fluorinated positron emission tomography tracers.

Dose-on-demand production of diverse 18F-radiotracers for preclinical applications using a continuous flow microfluidic system

INTRODUCTION The production of 18F-radiotracers using continuous flow microfluidics is under-utilized due to perceived equipment limitations. We describe the dose-on-demand principle, whereby the back-to-back production of multiple, diverse 18F-radiotracers can be prepared on the same day, on the same microfluidic system using the same batch of [18F]fluoride, the same microreactor, the same HPLC column and SPE cartridge to obtain a useful production yield. METHODS [18F]MEL050, [18F]Fallypride and [18F]PBR111 were radiolabeled with [18F]fluoride using the Advion NanoTek Microfluidic Synthesis System. The outlet of the microreactor was connected to an automated HPLC injector and following the collection of the product, SPE reformulation produced the 18F-radiotracer in <10% ethanolic saline. A thorough automated cleaning procedure was implemented to ensure no cross-contamination between radiotracer synthesis. RESULTS The complete productions for [18F]MEL050 and [18F]Fallypride were performed at total flow rates of 20μL/min, resulting in 40±13% and 25±13% RCY respectively. [18F]PBR111 was performed at 200μL/min to obtain 27±8% RCY. Molar activities for each 18F-radiotracer were >100GBq/μmol and radiochemical purities were >97%, implying that the cleaning procedure was effective. CONCLUSIONS Using the same initial solution of [18F]fluoride, microreactor, HPLC column and SPE cartridge, three diverse 18F-radiotracers could be produced in yields sufficient for preclinical studies in a back-to-back fashion using a microfluidic system with no detectable cross-contamination.

Synthesis and in Vivo Evaluation of [123I]Melanin-Targeted Agents

This study reports the synthesis, [(123)I]radiolabeling, and biological profile of a new series of iodinated compounds for potential translation to the corresponding [(131)I]radiolabeled compounds for radionuclide therapy of melanoma. Radiolabeling was achieved via standard electrophilic iododestannylation in 60-90% radiochemical yield. Preliminary SPECT imaging demonstrated high and distinct tumor uptake of all compounds, as well as high tumor-to-background ratios compared to the literature compound [(123)I]4 (ICF01012). The most favorable compounds ([(123)I]20, [(123)I]23, [(123)I]41, and [(123)I]53) were selected for further biological investigation. Biodistribution studies indicated that all four compounds bound to melanin containing tissue with low in vivo deiodination; [(123)I]20 and [(123)I]53 in particular displayed high and prolonged tumor uptake (13% ID/g at 48 h). [(123)I]53 had the most favorable overall profile of the cumulative uptake over time of radiosensitive organs. Metabolite analysis of the four radiotracers found [(123)I]41 and [(123)I]53 to be the most favorable, displaying high and prolonged amounts of intact tracer in melanin containing tissues, suggesting melanin specific binding. Results herein suggest that compound [(123)I]53 displays favorable in vivo pharmacokinetics and stability and hence is an ideal candidate to proceed with further preclinical [(131)I] therapeutic evaluation.

[18F]Fluorination Optimisation and the Fully Automated Production of [18F]MEL050 Using a Microfluidic System

The [18F]radiolabelling of the melanin-targeting positron-emission tomography radiotracer [18F]MEL050 was rapidly optimised using a commercial continuous-flow microfluidic system. The optimal [18F]fluorination incorporation conditions were then translated to production-scale experiments (35–150 GBq) suitable for preclinical imaging, complete with automated HPLC–solid phase extraction purification and formulation. [18F]MEL050 was obtained in 43 ± 10 % radiochemical yield in ~50 min.

How Far Are We from Dose On Demand of Short-Lived Radiopharmaceuticals?

PET radiopharmaceuticals are currently produced using a centralized approach, which makes sustainable the distribution to few imaging centers of an only small set of tracers (virtually only [18F]FDG). However, a wider set of structures have demonstrated a potential applicability for imaging in a specific manner several disease condition. In order to allow this wider and more personalized use of PET imaging, the production paradigms need to be changed. In this contribution we will explain how Dose-On-Demand systems can be conceptualized and what are the challenges that are still to be overcome in order for such approach to be of widespread utility.

Sulfur - fluorine bond in PET radiochemistry

The importance of the sulfur-fluorine bond is starting to increase in modern medicinal chemistry literature. This is due to a better understanding of the stability and reactivity of this moiety depending on the various oxidation states of sulfur. Furthermore, several commercial reagents used for mild and selective fluorination of organic molecules are based on the known reactivity of S-F groups. In this review, we will show how these examples are translating into the 18F field, both for use as stable tags in finished radiopharmaceuticals and as mildly reactive fluoride-relay intermediates. Finally, we also discuss current opportunities where examples of non-radioactive S-F applications/chemistry may be translated into future 18F radiochemistry applications.