The Radiochemical Laboratory for PET Radiopharmaceuticals at McMaster


Radiochemical Laboratory is an integral part of the McMaster PET Program. Our laboratory is equipped with a negative ion cyclotron (Siemens RDS-112), remotely controlled and automated units for radiochemical synthesis and state-of-the-art analytical equipment for quality control. The laboratory is staffed by two senior Radiochemists, a Radiochemist and one quality control Chemist.

 

A number of radiopharmaceuticals are routinely produced for clinical use:

  • 2 -18 FDG to study glucose metabolism
  • [18F]6-FMT and [18F]6-FDOPA to study dopamine metabolism
  • [18F]6-FDA to study cardiac sympathetic enervation
  • 13N-ammonia to study blood flow
  • 11C-acetate to study myocardial blood flow and metabolism
  • 15O-water for brain activation studies.

FDG is shipped routinely to a number of hospitals. In addition, the staff analyses plasma samples for the determination of metabolites from a number of radiotracers.


The Laboratory staff also support an active program of research:

(i) Development of new radiopharmaceuticals, such as:

  • 18F-Fluoroethyl-oubain to assess the Na/K pump in the myocardium
  • 18F-Fluoromisonidazole to study the degree of hypoxia in tissues a number of 18F and 11C-labelled tracers for melatonin receptors

(ii) Targetry and target chemistry for the production of clinically useful quantities of [18F]F2 gas,
      18F-fluoride and 18N-ammonia. 

(iii) Application of 18F as a tracer to probe:

  • Inorganic and organic reaction mechanisms with special emphasis towards the production of 18F-labelled imaging agents.
  • Kinetically unstable hypervalent fluorides.


Laboratory research activities have been funded by MRC, NSERC, Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation, Sterling-Winthrop and Servier.

Laboratory staff supervise a number of graduate students in Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy and School of Pharmacy of the University of Toronto.