Automatic synthesis of 16α-[18F]fluoro-17β-estradiol using a cassette-type [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose synthesizer

16 alpha-[(18)F]fluoro-17 beta-estradiol ([(18)F]FES) is a radiotracer for imaging estrogen receptors by positron emission tomography. We developed a clinically applicable automatic preparation system for [(18)F]FES by modifying a cassette-type [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose synthesizer. Two milligrams of 3-O-methoxymethyl-16,17-O-sulfuryl-16-epiestriol in acetonitrile was heated at 105 degrees C for 10 min with dried [(18)F]fluoride. The resultant solution was evaporated and hydrolyzed with 0.2 N HCl in 90% acetonitrile/water at 95 degrees C for 10 min under pressurized condition. The neutralization was carried out with 2.8% NaHCO(3), and then the high-performance liquid chromatography (H PLC) purification was performed. The desired radioactive fraction was collected and the solvent was replaced by 10 ml of saline, and then passed through a 0.22-mu m filter into a pyrogen-free vial as the final product. The HPLC purification data demonstrated that [(18)F]FES was synthesized with a yield of 76.4 +/- 1.9% (n=5). The yield as the final product for clinical use was 42.4 +/- 3.2% (n=5, decay corrected). The total preparation time was 88.2 +/- 6.4 min, including the HPLC purification and the solvent replacement process. The radiochemical purity of the final product was > 99%, and the specific activity was more than I I I GBq/mu mol. The final product was stable for more than 6 h in saline containing sodium ascorbate. This new preparation system enables Lis to produce [(18)F]FES safe for clinical use with high and reproducible yield. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.