An automated SPE-based high-yield synthesis of [11C]acetate and [11C]palmitate: no liquid-liquid extraction, solvent evaporation or distillation required

Radiosynthesis, Preclinical, and Clinical Positron Emission Tomography Studies of Carbon-11 Labeled Endogenous and Natural Exogenous Compounds

The presence of positron emission tomography (PET) centers at most major hospitals worldwide, along with the improvement of PET scanner sensitivity and the introduction of total body PET systems, has increased the interest in the PET tracer development using the short-lived radionuclides carbon-11. In the last few decades, methodological improvements and fully automated modules have allowed the development of carbon-11 tracers for clinical use. Radiolabeling natural compounds with carbon-11 by substituting one of the backbone carbons with the radionuclide has provided important information on the biochemistry of the authentic compounds and increased the understanding of their in vivo behavior in healthy and diseased states. The number of endogenous and natural compounds essential for human life is staggering, ranging from simple alcohols to vitamins and peptides. This review collates all the carbon-11 radiolabeled endogenous and natural exogenous compounds synthesised to date, including essential information on their radiochemistry methodologies and preclinical and clinical studies in healthy subjects.

3D-printed automation for optimized PET radiochemistry

Reproducible batch synthesis of radioligands for imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) in a manner that maximizes ligand yield, purity, and molar activity, and minimizes cost and exposure to radiation, remains a challenge, as new and synthetically complex radioligands become available. Commercially available automated synthesis units (ASUs) solve many of these challenges but are costly to install and cannot always accommodate diverse chemistries. Through a reiterative design process, we exploit the proliferation of three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies to translate optimized reaction conditions into ASUs composed of 3D-printed, electronic, and robotic parts. Our units are portable and robust and reduce radiation exposure, shorten synthesis time, and improve the yield of the final radiopharmaceutical for a fraction of the cost of a commercial ASU. These 3D-printed ASUs highlight the gains that can be made by designing a fit-for-purpose ASU to accommodate a synthesis over accommodating a synthesis to an unfit ASU.

A Novel Substrate Radiotracer for Molecular Imaging of SIRT2 Expression and Activity with Positron Emission Tomography

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to develop a SIRT2-specific substrate-type radiotracer for non-invasive PET imaging of epigenetic regulatory processes mediated by SIRT2 in normal and disease tissues.

PROCEDURES

A library of compounds containing tert-butyloxycarbonyl-lysine-aminomethylcoumarin backbone was derivatized with fluoroalkyl chains 3-16 carbons in length. SIRT2 most efficiently cleaved the myristoyl, followed by 12-fluorododecanoic and 10-fluorodecanoic groups (K_cat/K_m 716.5 ± 72.8, 615.4 ± 50.5, 269.5 ± 52.1/s mol, respectively). Radiosynthesis of 12- [¹⁸F]fluorododecanoic aminohexanoicanilide (12-[¹⁸F]DDAHA) was achieved by nucleophilic radiofluorination of 12-iododecanoic-AHA precursor.

RESULTS

A significantly higher accumulation of 12-[¹⁸F]DDAHA was observed in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435 cells in vitro as compared to U87, MiaPaCa, and MCF10A, which was consistent with levels of SIRT2 expression. Initial in vivo studies using 12-[¹⁸F]DDAHA conducted in a 9L glioma-bearing rats were discouraging, due to rapid defluorination of this radiotracer upon intravenous administration, as evidenced by significant accumulation of F-18 radioactivity in the skull and other bones, which confounded the interpretation of images of radiotracer accumulation within the tumor and other regions of the brain.

CONCLUSIONS

The next generation of SIRT2-specific radiotracers resistant to systemic defluorination should be developed using alternative sites of radiofluorination on the aliphatic chain of DDAHA. A SIRT2-selective radiotracer may provide information about SIRT2 expression and activity in tumors and normal organs and tissues, which may help to better understand the roles of SIRT2 in different diseases.

Acetuino-A Handy Open-Source Radiochemistry Module for the Preparation of [1-11C]Acetate

Radiosynthesis of [1-¹¹C]acetate is well described in literature, but all syntheses either require adaptations in complex commercial synthesizers or rely on closed-source hardware and software control. Arduino microcontrollers are ideal for the compact, flexible, and inexpensive control of low-complexity hardware, making them particularly suited for radiochemistry where operation in space-limited shielded hot cells is mandatory. We established a [1-¹¹C]acetate radiosynthesis module for combination with a [¹¹C]MeI module available in almost every lab working with ¹¹C. Its small footprint even enables back-to-back production in a hot cell already occupied by other modules. Using this setup, we achieved a reliable and flexible supply of this tracer, with radiochemical yields of 51.4 ± 28.2% and radiochemical purities (RCPs) of 94.4 ± 6.7% ( n = 9) in a synthesis time of 15 minutes. Positron emission tomography (PET) and biodistribution analysis demonstrated low background uptake in healthy mice, with highest uptake in liver and kidneys. Arduino microcontrollers have become valuable and versatile tools in our lab for the automatization of low-complexity procedures not requiring full-blown commercial radiochemistry synthesizers, as showcased here for the production of [1-¹¹C]acetate.

Whole-Body Biodistribution, Dosimetry, and Metabolite Correction of [11C]Palmitate: A PET Tracer for Imaging of Fatty Acid Metabolism

INTRODUCTION

Despite the decades long use of [¹¹C]palmitate positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography in basic metabolism studies, only personal communications regarding dosimetry and biodistribution data have been published.

METHODS

Dosimetry and biodistribution studies were performed in 2 pigs and 2 healthy volunteers by whole-body [¹¹C]palmitate PET scans. Metabolite studies were performed in 40 participants (healthy and with type 2 diabetes) under basal and hyperinsulinemic conditions. Metabolites were estimated using 2 approaches and subsequently compared: Indirect [¹¹C]CO₂ release and parent [¹¹C]palmitate measured by a solid-phase extraction (SPE) method. Finally, myocardial fatty acid uptake was calculated in a patient cohort using input functions derived from individual metabolite correction compared with population-based metabolite correction.

RESULTS

In humans, mean effective dose was 3.23 (0.02) µSv/MBq, with the liver and myocardium receiving the highest absorbed doses. Metabolite correction using only [¹¹C]CO₂ estimates underestimated the fraction of metabolites in studies lasting more than 20 minutes. Population-based metabolite correction showed excellent correlation with individual metabolite correction in the cardiac PET validation cohort.

CONCLUSION

First, mean effective dose of [¹¹C]palmitate is 3.23 (0.02) µSv/MBq in humans allowing multiple scans using ∼300 MBq [¹¹C]palmitate, and secondly, population-based metabolite correction compares well with individual correction.

Synthesis of carbon-11-labeled imidazopyridine- and purine-thioacetamide derivatives as new potential PET tracers for imaging of nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (NPP1)

The target tracer carbon-11-labeled imidazopyridine- and purine-thioacetamide derivatives, N-(3-[(11)C]methoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-((5-methoxy-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl)thio)acetamide (3-[(11)C]4a) and N-(4-[(11)C]methoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-((5-methoxy-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl)thio)acetamide (4-[(11)C]4a); 2-((6-amino-9H-purin-8-yl)thio)-N-(3-[(11)C]methoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)acetamide (3-[(11)C]8a) and 2-((6-amino-9H-purin-8-yl)thio)-N-(4-[(11)C]methoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetamide (4-[(11)C]8a), were prepared by O-[(11)C]methylation of their corresponding precursors with [(11)C]CH3OTf under basic condition (2N NaOH) and isolated by a simplified solid-phase extraction (SPE) method in 50-60% radiochemical yields based on [(11)C]CO2 and decay corrected to end of bombardment (EOB). The overall synthesis time from EOB was 23min, the radiochemical purity was >99%, and the specific activity at end of synthesis (EOS) was 185-555GBq/μmol.

Evaluation of 11C-acetate and 18F-FDG PET/CT in mouse multidrug resistance gene-2 deficient mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a global health problem with unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, including difficulties in identifying the highest risk patients. Previous work from our lab has established the murine multidrug resistance-2 mouse (MDR2) model of HCC as a reasonable preclinical model that parallels the changes seen in human inflammatory associated HCC. The purpose of this study is to evaluate modalities of PET/CT in MDR2(-/-) mice in order to facilitate therapeutic translational studies from bench to bedside.

METHODS

18F-FDG and 11C-acetate PET/CT was performed on 12 m MDR2(-/-) mice (n = 3/tracer) with HCC and 12 m MDR2(-/+) control mice (n = 3/tracer) without HCC. To compare PET/CT to biological markers of HCC and cellular function, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), cAMP and hepatic tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) were quantified in 3-12 m MDR2(-/-) (n = 10) mice using commercially available ELISA analysis. To translate results in mice to patients 11C-acetate PET/CT was also performed in 8 patents suspected of HCC recurrence following treatment and currently on the liver transplant wait list.

RESULTS

Hepatic18F-FDG metabolism was not significantly increased in MDR2(-/-) mice. In contrast, hepatic 11C-acetate metabolism was significantly elevated in MDR2(-/-) mice when compared to MDR2(-/+) controls. Serum AFP and LPA levels increased in MDR2(-/-) mice contemporaneous with the emergence of HCC. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in serum cAMP levels and an increase in hepatic TNFα. In patients suspected of HCC recurrence there were 5 true positives, 2 true negatives and 1 suspected false 11C-acetate negative.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic 11C-acetate PET/CT tracks well with HCC in MDR2(-/-) mice and patients with underlying liver disease. Consequently 11C-acetate PET/CT is well suited to study (1) HCC emergence/progression in patients and (2) reduce animal numbers required to study new chemotherapeutics in murine models of HCC.

In-house development of an optimized synthetic module for routine [11C]acetate production

[11C]Acetate, a radiotracer for PET imaging, is a promising radiopharmaceutical for overcoming the limitation of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose in a number of cancers. Here, the optimized automatic synthesis of [11C]acetate using an in-house-developed module under different conditions has been reported for routine production. [11C]CO2 was produced in a 16.4 MeV PETtrace cyclotron, and methyl magnesium chloride was used for synthesis. For product purification, ion-exchange solid-phase extraction cartridges were used, connected in series. High-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography were used to measure radiochemical and chemical purity. The Limulus amebocyte lysate test and the fluid thioglycollate medium test were performed for quality control of [11C]acetate. The total reaction time of [11C]acetate was within 15 min, and the overall decay-corrected radiochemical yield was 84.33±8.85%. Radiochemical purity was greater than 98% when evaluated on an analytical high-performance liquid chromatography system. No endotoxins or anaerobic bacteria were seen on quality control checks. Optimized production of [11C]acetate was achieved by the in-house module. Radiochemical and biological properties of the [11C]acetate produced were appropriate for clinical PET study.

Synthesis of carbon-11-labeled 4-(phenylamino)-pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine derivatives as new potential PET tracers for imaging of p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase

The reference standards methyl 4-(2-methyl-5-(methoxycarbamoyl)phenylamino)-5-methylpyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine-6-carboxylate (10a), methyl 4-(2-methyl-5-(ethoxycarbamoyl)phenylamino)-5-methylpyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine-6-carboxylate (10b) and corresponding precursors 4-(2-methyl-5-(methoxycarbamoyl)phenylamino)-5-methylpyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine-6-carboxylic acid (11a), methyl 4-(2-methyl-5-(ethoxycarbamoyl)phenylamino)-5-methylpyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine-6-carboxylic acid (11b) were synthesized from methyl crotonate and 3-amino-4-methylbenzoic acid in multiple steps with moderate to excellent yields. The target tracer [(11)C]methyl 4-(2-methyl-5-(methoxycarbamoyl)phenylamino)-5-methylpyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine-6-carboxylate ([(11)C]10a) and [(11)C]methyl 4-(2-methyl-5-(ethoxycarbamoyl)phenylamino)-5-methylpyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine-6-carboxylate ([(11)C]10b) were prepared from their corresponding precursors with [(11)C]CH3OTf under basic condition through O-[(11)C]methylation and isolated by a simplified solid-phase extraction (SPE) method in 50-60% radiochemical yields at end of bombardment (EOB) with 185-555 GBq/μmol specific activity at end of synthesis (EOS).

Easy upgrade of the TRACERLab FX C Pro for [¹¹C]carboxylation reactions: application to the routine production of [1-¹¹C]acetate

Carbon-11-labeled acetate ([1-(11)C]acetate) is a radiopharmaceutical of importance in clinical practice as well as in preclinical research in cardiology and oncology. Its preparation is based on the [(11)C]carboxylation reaction of a Grignard reagent with [(11)C]CO2. Most of the commercially available synthesizers are only dedicated to the preparation of [(11)C]methyl iodide (or [(11)C]methyl triflate) for the radiomethylation of an appropriate precursor but not for the direct use of cyclotron-produced [(11)C]CO2. Based on the classical [(11)C]carboxylation reaction and SPE purification, we propose in this technical note a detailed, simple, easy-to-handle and fully reversible modification of the TRACERLab FX C Pro to operate, on demand, [(11)C]carboxylation reactions, exemplified herein by the production of [1-(11)C]acetate, or [(11)C]radiomethylation reactions. This also opens new prospects to other type of radiochemical reactions involving [(11)C]CO2.

Equivalence of arterial and venous blood for [11C]CO2-metabolite analysis following intravenous administration of 1-[11C]acetate and 1-[11C]palmitate

PURPOSE

Sampling of arterial blood for metabolite correction is often required to define a true radiotracer input function in quantitative modeling of PET data. However, arterial puncture for blood sampling is often undesirable. To establish whether venous blood could substitute for arterial blood in metabolite analysis for quantitative PET studies with 1-[(11)C]acetate and 1-[(11)C]palmitate, we compared the results of [(11)C]CO2-metabolite analyses performed on simultaneously collected arterial and venous blood samples.

METHODS

Paired arterial and venous blood samples were drawn from anesthetized pigs at 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30min after i.v. administration of 1-[(11)C]acetate and 1-[(11)C]palmitate. Blood radioactivity present as [(11)C]CO2 was determined employing a validated 10-min gas-purge method. Briefly, total blood (11)C radioactivity was counted in base-treated [(11)C]-blood samples, and non-[(11)C]CO2 radioactivity was counted after the [(11)C]-blood was acidified using 6N HCl and bubbled with air for 10min to quantitatively remove [(11)C]CO2.

RESULTS

An excellent correlation was found between concurrent arterial and venous [(11)C]CO2 levels. For the [(11)C]acetate study, the regression equation derived to estimate the venous [(11)C]CO2 from the arterial values was: y=0.994x+0.004 (r(2)=0.97), and for the [(11)C]palmitate: y=0.964x-0.001 (r(2)=0.9). Over the 1-30min period, the fraction of total blood (11)C present as [(11)C]CO2 rose from 4% to 64% for acetate, and 0% to 24% for palmitate. The rate of [(11)C]CO2 appearance in venous blood appears similar for the pig model and humans following i.v. [(11)C]-acetate administration.

CONCLUSION

Venous blood [(11)C]CO2 values appear suitable as substitutes for arterial blood samples in [(11)C]CO2 metabolite analysis after administration of [(11)C]acetate or [(11)C]palmitate

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PATIENT CARE

Quantitative PET studies employing 1-[(11)C]acetate and 1-[(11)C]palmitate can employ venous blood samples for metabolite correction of an image-derived tracer arterial input function, thereby avoiding the risks of direct arterial blood sampling.