System and Method for the Production of Ultra-High Quantities of 18F-Fluoride - Reference #121-128

Background

Positron emission tomography (PET) provides in vivo biological information for determining the functional status of organ systems in both health and disease. However, the growth of PET as an integral part of diagnostic procedures for cancer, cardiac disease, and neurological disorders is limited by the availability of the short-lived radiopharmaceuticals used in the procedure. More than 95% of all PET procedures use the radioisotope 18F, which has distribution limitations. Due to its relatively short half-life (109.8 minutes), a supply must either be very close to the end user, or large quantities must be produced to enable shipping great distances.

 

Technology Description

TRIUMF researchers have developed a technology for the production of ultra-high quantities of 18F-Fluoride using a proton beam to irradiate 18O in gaseous form. Existing water target systems produce 1-2 Ci of 18F with some systems quoting up to 5 Ci using 2 targets simultaneously. The TRIUMF gas target system can potentially produce 4 times more 18F than these conventional systems. These substantially increased yields result from the higher beam currents and increased proton beam energy capability of the TRIUMF system.

Demonstration runs of the inventive concept have consistently yielded at least about 70% of the theoretically obtainable 18F-Fluoride from 18O gas, whereas yields of only 52-56% are typically obtained from conventional 18O-enriched water.

In this invention, the irradiated 18O is contained in a chamber that includes a material to which the produced 18F-Fluoride adheres. A solvent dissolves the produced 18F-Fluoride off of the collection surface while it is in the chamber. The solvent is then processed to obtain the 18F-Fluoride. Demonstration runs have recovered up to 98% of the 18F from the solvent.

 

Advantages

  • Gas targets can be operated at higher beam currents than conventional water targets (>100 μA vs. ~50 μA); thus more than doubling the potential yield
  • The ability to operate at increased proton beam energy (20 MeV rather than the typical 10-15 MeV) further increases production yield
  • Enriched 18O2 gas can be recycled more easily than enriched water, resulting in significant cost savings
  • Faster production cycle than 18O-enriched water

 

Applications

  • Production of 18F-fluoride for use in PET radiopharmaceuticals

 

Commercial Status

Patents obtained in the US and pending in jurisdictions worldwide. Design and production of a prototype is underway. This technology is available for immediate licensing or collaborative development. Please contact us for further information.

 

Contact

Ann Fong
Manager, Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization
Phone: 604.222.7471
Email: ttadmin@triumf.ca
* Please quote reference number 121-128.