Robotic synthesis of 6-[18F]fluoro-L-dopa

The aim of this study was to develop a method of semi-automated 6-[F-18]fluoro-L-dopa (6-[F-18]FDOPA) synthesis using a robotic system (Scanditronix Anatech RE III, Uppsala, Sweden). [F-18]Fluorine was produced via Ne-20(d,alpha)F-18 using a Scanditronix MC17F cyclotron (Uppsala). The radiosynthesis was performed by the Scanditronix Anatech RE III robotic system. On average, a typical run produced 16-19 mCi of 6-[F-18]FDOPA at end of synthesis (EOS) after 2 h irradiation of the F-2/neon gas target. The total synthesis time was 110 min. The retention time of 6-[F-18]FDOPA (the radio peak) was 8.2 min, which was consistent with the 6-[F-19]FDOPA ultraviolet peak. The radiochemical purity was greater than 97%. A robotic, semi-automated method for 6-[F-18]FDOPA radiosynthesis is therefore feasible. The radiation burden for the operator can be reduced as much as possible. Sufficient activity of 6-[F-18]FDOPA could be obtained for positron emission tomography studies of dopaminergic function. (C) 2000 Lippincott William & Wilkins).