Elizarov A.M., Kolb H.C., van Dam R.M., Heath J.R., Padgett H.C., Huang J., Daridon A.
California Institute of Technology, US
Keywords: microfluidics, mixing, PDMS, PET, radiopharmaceuticals, synthesis
A microfluidic device designed and optimized for the multi-step synthesis of PET (Positron Emisssion Tomography) probes is presented. It is the first device in its class to produce radiopharmaceuticals of sufficient quality and quantity (over 2 mCi) to be validated by in vivo imaging (mouse). Its PDMS elastomer-based architecture has novel features that facilitate mixing, solvent exchange, product collection and overall synthetic efficiency. New microfluidic properties and processes arising from the use of a “large” (5 uL) coin-shaped reactor, have been discovered and demonstrated. Novel mechanisms, such as chemically-assisted mixing and vacuum evaporation across a membrane are utilized. The device presented here, the size of a quarter, demonstrates the potential to produce multiple human doses of radiopharmaceutials, such as 18FDG ([18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose) in the near future. But its greatest impact will be in the research and development of new molecular probes, which cannot be produced by conventional macroscopic methods.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Technical Proceedings of the 2006 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 2
Published: May 7, 2006
Pages: 542 - 545
Industry sectors: Medical & Biotech | Sensors, MEMS, Electronics
Topic: Micro & Bio Fluidics, Lab-on-Chip
ISBN: 0-9767985-7-3