Development of a disposable kit with fully automatic self-shielding reactor for [¹⁸F]FDG synthesis

Area of Science:

• Radiochemistry
• Nuclear Medicine
• Medical Device Development

Background:

• Radiopharmaceutical synthesis poses radiation exposure risks to personnel.
• Existing methods may require complex shielding or remote handling.
• A need exists for integrated, user-friendly shielding solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and fabricate a self-shielding device for radiopharmaceutical synthesis.
• To minimize radiation exposure during the synthesis process.
• To evaluate the device's performance using a common radiopharmaceutical.

Main Methods:

• A self-shielding synthesis kit was designed and constructed.
• The kit incorporates features for radiation protection during synthesis and disposal.
• Performance was assessed through the synthesis of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG).

Main Results:

• The self-shielding synthesis kit effectively minimized radiation exposure.
• Successful synthesis of [18F]FDG was achieved using the developed device.
• The design facilitates safe handling and disposal of radioactive materials.

Conclusions:

• The developed self-shielding synthesis kit offers a safe and efficient method for radiopharmaceutical production.
• This innovation enhances radiation safety in radiochemistry laboratories.
• The device is suitable for routine synthesis of radiotracers like [18F]FDG.