Automated Radiochemical Synthesis of [18F]3F4AP: A Novel PET Tracer for Imaging Demyelinating Diseases

J Vis Exp. 2017 May 29:(123):55537. doi: 10.3791/55537.

Abstract

3-[18F]fluoro-4-aminopyridine, [18F]3F4AP, is a radiofluorinated analog of the FDA-approved drug for multiple sclerosis 4-aminopyridine (4AP). This compound is currently under investigation as a PET tracer for demyelination. We recently described a novel chemical reaction to produce metafluorinated pyridines consisting of direct fluorination of a pyridine N-oxide and the utilization of this reaction for the radiochemical synthesis of [18F]3F4AP. In this article, we demonstrate how to produce this tracer using an automated synthesizer and an in-house made flow hydrogenation reactor. We also show the standard quality control procedures performed before releasing the radiotracer for preclinical animal imaging studies. This semi-automated procedure may serve as the basis for future production of [18F]3F4AP for clinical studies.

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Aminopyridines / chemical synthesis*
  • Demyelinating Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Demyelinating Diseases / pathology
  • Fluorine Radioisotopes / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemical synthesis*

Substances

  • Aminopyridines
  • Fluorine Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorine-18