Experience of (¹⁸F) F-L-6-fluoro-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (¹⁸F) F-DOPA synthesis using automated module

(Fluoro-18)6-Fluoro-3, 4-dihydroxy-L- phenylalanine ((¹⁸F) F-DOPA) is a frequently used radiopharmaceutical for detecting neuroendocrine and brain tumors and for the differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. These are several types of precursors available for synthesis of ¹⁸F-FDOPA. In this study sharing on experience of ¹⁸F FDOPA synthesis using nucleophilic substitution method. The ¹⁸F radioisotopes were produced with our in- house 16.5 MeV Cyclotron (PET trace 860, GE Healthcare, USA) by the proton bombardment on the enriched ¹⁸O water (from ABX Germany) (¹⁸O (p, n)¹⁸F) reaction. 6-l-(¹⁸F) FDOPA was produced using ABX -DOPA precursor (PE 1336.0030) in the module. Around 2.5 Ci of the ¹⁸F was added to the module. The product was finally purified with a series of solid phase cartridges and tested for its PH by litmus paper, RCP by HPLC system (Dionex, ICS- 5000+, California, USA) was equipped with UV-Vis detector followed by radioactivity detector using a C18 column (5um 4.6 x 250, Shim-pack GWS, Shimadzu). For residual purity by GC (Scion 436 GC, Netherlands) with flame ionization detector (FID), for TBA content by HPTLC silica gel 60 F254 chromatography paper (Merck, New Jersey. USA, RNP by half-life with Dose calibrator (Capintec CRC- 25 PET, New Jersey. USA) and the endotoxin test was performed using cartridge on NexGen Endo safe PTS (Charles River, Massachusetts, USA). After each synthesis, the final product quality was evaluated for radiochemical purity by HPLC which was 97 ± 2%. The yield was 8 ± 2%, (n = 22) with a radiochemical purity (RCP) of result was satisfactory and complies European pharmacopeia.