Pre-clean-up of reaction mixtures in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing by on-line solid phase extraction using HPLC


Pre-clean-up of reaction mixtures in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing by on-line solid phase extraction using HPLC

Füchtner, F.; Mäding, P.; Preusche, S.; Zessin, J.; Steinbach, J.

Objectives: Radiopharmaceuticals are usually synthesised by reaction of simple radiolabeled compounds with a non-radioactive precursor. Afterwards the labeled precursor compound undergoes frequently a deprotection reaction. The resulting reaction mixture is often quite complex and needs HPLC purification to isolate the labeled target compound in high chemical and radiochemical purity. In some cases the composition of the reaction mixture is such complex, that an off-line solid phase extraction (SPE) step is carried out before HPLC purification to separate matrix components and/or interfering solvents. This SPE prepurification of the reaction mixture is difficult to automate and needs special hardware and solvents for rinsing and eluting the SPE cartridge. Additionally, remote controlled synthesis modules become more complex.The general aim of the present work is to develop a process, which allows the pre-cleaning of reaction mixtures from disturbing matrix components by online SPE using HPLC. In detail it results from the need to improve the radiochemical purity of [18F]FDOPA and to reduce the solvent content of dimethylformamide (DMF) during manufacturing of the serotonin transporter radioligand [18F]FMeMcN 5652.
Methods:
The figure shows the scheme of the HPLC hardware, whereas a pre- or guard-column is used as pre-clean-up-column (X) instead of an injection loop. The selectivity of the packing material of both columns (III & X) can be selected in accordance with the separation requirements.The process includes following steps:1. Injection valve (I) in “load position”, The reaction mixture is transferred from the reaction vessel (IX) onto the pre-clean-up-column. The diameter of the packing material of the pre-clean-up-column is in the range, which allows the feeding by gas overpressure. The disturbing matrix components are passed to waste and the target compound is retained.2. The rinsing liquid is filled into the reaction vessel and rinse out the dead volume of the pre-clean-up-column. The target compound is cleaned-up and concentrated.3. Injection valve in “inject position”, The target compound is back flushed out of the pre-clean-up-column onto the separation column (III) by the HPLC mobile phase. The finely purification takes place on the separation column. The eluate is fractionated and the target compound is collected in the common way.For the purification of [18F]FDOPA from the critical radiochemical impurity [18F]fluoride a pre-clean-up-column filled with polymer-based reversed phase (RP) material is used. The finely separation was performed on a silica-based RP column.In case of [18F]FMeMcN 5652 production the clean-up from the solvent, needed for the radiolabeling, and the finely separation is carried out on columns filled with silica-based RP materials.
Results:
...........................................................................[18F]FDOPA............................[18F]FMeMcN
HPLC purification method
...........................................................................[18F]Fluoride [%].....................DMF [mg/ml]
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Injection loop.........................................................7.7 (n=93)..............................1.4 (n=5)
Pre-clean-up-column............................................1.4 (n=25)..............................< 0.001 (n=4)

Conclusions: Using the interlinked on-line SPE / HPLC system, reaction mixtures of radiopharmaceutical synthesis can be cleaned up and disturbing matrix components can be separated from the target compound more efficiently.

  • Poster
    18th International Symposium on Radiopharmaceutical Sciences, 12.-17.07.2009, Edmonton, Canada
  • Abstract in refereed journal
    Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals 52(2009)Suppl 1, S306
    ISSN: 0362-4803

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-13103
Publ.-Id: 13103