Detailed evaluation of different (68)Ge/(68)Ga generators: an attempt toward achieving efficient (68)Ga radiopharmacy

The present study is aimed at carrying out a comparative performance evaluation of different types of (68)Ge/(68)Ga generators to identify the best choice for use in (68)Ga-radiopharmacy. Over the 1 year period of evaluation, the elution yields from the CeO2-based and SiO2-based (68)Ge/(68) Ga generators remained almost consistent, in contrast to the sharp decrease observed in the elution yields from TiO2 and SnO2-based generators. The level of (68)Ge impurity in (68)Ga eluates from the CeO2 and SiO2-based (68)Ge/(68)Ga generator was always <10(-3)%, while this level increased from 10(-3)% to 10(-1)% in case of TiO2 and SnO2-based generators. The level of chemical impurities in (68)Ga eluates from CeO2 and SiO2-based (68)Ge/(68)Ga generators was negligibly low (<0.1 ppm) in contrast to the significantly higher level (1-20 ppm) of such impurities in eluates from other two generators. As demonstrated by radiolabeling studies carried out using DOTA-coupled dimeric cyclic RGD peptide derivative (DOTA-RGD2), CeO2-PAN and SiO2-based generators are directly amenable for radiopharmaceutical preparation, whereas the other generators can be only used after post-elution purification of (68)Ga eluates. Clinically relevant dose of (68)Ga-DOTA-RGD2 was prepared in a hospital radiopharmacy for non-invasive visualization of tumors in breast cancer patients using positron emission tomography.