Amir Reza Jalilian - Cyclotron and Nuclear Medicine Department, Agricultural, Medical and Industrial Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Karaj, Iran
Mehdi Akhlaghi - Cyclotron and Nuclear Medicine Department, Agricultural, Medical and Industrial Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Karaj, Iran
Fariba Saddadi - Cyclotron and Nuclear Medicine Department, Agricultural, Medical and Industrial Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Karaj, Iran
Mohammad Mirzaie - Cyclotron and Nuclear Medicine Department, Agricultural, Medical and Industrial Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Karaj, Iran

Introduction: [۱۸F]-۶-thia-۱۴-fluoro-heptadecanoic acid ۳b, a free fatty acid, has been used in myocardial PET imaging. In order to establish an automated synthesis module for routine production in the country, a study performed for optimization of the production conditions as well as making modifications. Methods: [۱۸F] Benzyl-۱۴-Fluoro-۶-thia-heptadecanoate ۲b was prepared in no-carrier-added (n.c.a) form from Benzyl-۱۴-tosyloxy-۶-thia-heptadecanoate ۱ in one step at ۹۰C in Kryptofix۲.۲.۲/[۱۸F] and acetonitrile as the solvent followed by Silica column chromatography. The radiolabeled ester ۲ was then hydrolyzed to yield [۱۸F]-۶-thia-۱۴-fluoro-heptadecanoic ۳b. The final solution was concentrated using C۱۸ SPE system and administered to normal rats for biodistribution as well as co-incidence imaging studies. Results: The synthesis took ۱۵ min with overall radiochemical yield of ۱۵-۲۵% (EOS) and chemical-radiochemical purity more than ۹۴%. Automation was performed using a two-pot synthesis. The best imaging time was shown to be ۱۴۰-۱۸۰ minutes post injection. Conclusions: Using this procedure a fast, reliable, automated synthesis for the cordial PET tracer, i.e. [۱۸F]-FTHA can be obtained without HPLC purification step.

PET imaging, Radiochemical, Fluorine-۱۸, myocardium