Method and Device for the Spectrophotometric Determination of Residual Phase Transfer Catalyst in a PET Radiopharmaceutical Dose
Published:3/26/2020Description:
The Problem:
Phase transfer catalyst, such as Kryptofix-222 or 18-Crown-6, have to be used to manufacture fluorine-18 labeled radiotracers. Although the purification process of the radiotracer is designed to remove any impurities in the final dose, residual phase transfer catalyst remains present. TLC plates are currently the method to control for the quality of Kryptofix-222, but it is semi-quantitative. Moreover, there is no accepted test or residual limit for all phase transfer catalysts, such as 18-Crown-6.
The Solution:
Researchers at the University of Tennessee have developed a device that will test the residual phase transfer catalyst in a fluorine-18 labeled radiopharmaceutical dose preparation in a quantitative way. The proposed method will take advantage of the ability of the phase transfer catalyst molecules to make fluorine-18 potassium fluoride soluble in the organic solvents. With the addition of an anionic dye solution, the concentration of residual phase transfer catalyst will be determined from the measured the absorbance.
Benefits:
Rapid and accurate quantification
Cheaper instruments, compared to alternative like GC and LC
Lower limit of detection
Works for any phase transfer catalyst