AUTHOR=Blanc-Béguin Frédérique , Masset Julien , Robin Philippe , Tripier Raphaël , Hennebicq Simon , Guilloux Valérie , Vriamont Charles , Warnier Corentin , Cogulet Virginie , Eu Peter , Salaün Pierre-Yves , Le Roux Pierre-Yves
TITLE=Fully Automated 68Ga-Labeling and Purification of Macroaggregated Albumin Particles for Lung Perfusion PET Imaging
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nuclear Medicine
VOLUME=1
YEAR=2021
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nuclear-medicine/articles/10.3389/fnume.2021.778191
DOI=10.3389/fnume.2021.778191
ISSN=2673-8880
ABSTRACT=Lung PET/CT is a promising imaging modality for regional lung function assessment. Our aim was to develop and validate a fast, simple, and fully automated GMP compliant [68Ga]Ga-MAA labeling procedure, using a commercially available [99mTc]Tc-MAA kit, a direct gallium-68 eluate and including a purification of the [68Ga]Ga-MAA.
Method: The synthesis parameters (pH, heating temperature) were manually determined. Automated 68Ga-labeling of MAA was then developed on a miniAIO (Trasis®, Ans, Belgium) module. An innovative automated process was developed for the purification. The process was then optimized and adapted to automate both the [68Ga]Ga-MAA synthesis and the isolation of gallium-68 eluate required for the pulmonary ventilation PET/CT.
Results: The 15-min process demonstrated high reliability and reproducibility, with high synthesis yield (>95 %). Mean [68Ga]Ga-MAA radiochemical purity was 99 % ± 0.6 %. The 68Ga-labeled MAA particles size and morphology remained unchanged.
Conclusion: A fast, user friendly, and fully automated process to produce GMP [68Ga]Ga-MAA for clinical use was developed. This automated process combining the advantages of using a non-modified MAA commercial kit, a gallium-68 eluate without pre-purification and an efficient final purification of the [68Ga]Ga-MAA may facilitate the implementation of lung PET/CT imaging in nuclear medicine departments.