Recommendations for selection of additives for stabilization of [¹⁸F]FDG

Highlights: • Selective hydroxyl radical scavengers play crucial role in suppression of radiolysis of [¹⁸F]FDG. • Additives with high rate constants (k_OH) are proved to be very effective in neutralization of OH^· radicals. • Salicylate, glucose, pantothenic acid and cysteine are excellent stabilizers due to their high k_OH values (>10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹). - Abstract: In this work, two relevant recommendations were established for selection of stabilizers for suppression of radiolysis of [¹⁸F]FDG. First, the stabilizing effect could be enhanced using selective scavengers of hydroxyl radicals (OH^·). Additionally, the initial radiochemical purity could be retained due to compounds with rate constants of their reactions with OH^· (k_OH) higher than 10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. According to these recommendations number of additives among carbohydrates, amino acids, B vitamins and organic salts were successfully applied for stabilization of [¹⁸F]FDG.