Abstract:
The invention provides an automatic synthesizer apparatus and method for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE with one button control process to effectively isolate the medication in vials from the contamination of environment and manual operations, saving the costs of investment in production with alleviation of the critical standard required for the environmental equipments to be used for production.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to an automatic synthesizer apparatus and method for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid octreotate), and more particularly to an automatic synthesizer apparatus having convenient control process for saving cost with increasing yield. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Gallium isotopes Ga-68 are feasible to form stable complex with DOTA without difficulty, this complex with a high ratio of activity can be used to locate peptides or other small molecules. Gallium-68 after completely transformed yields can be as high as 89% suitable for PET imaging. Since Ga-68 nuclide has half-life of 68 minutes, which is suitable for pharmacokinetics assessment for many kinds of peptides, and this feature of Ga-68 nuclides is well used in the fields of diagnostic imaging and therapeutic research. 
         [0005]    Conventional operational process for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE generally includes hardware and software two parts. In the part of hardware, conventional synthesizing box has shortcomings in the aspect of automatic labeling process, construction, layout, and arrangement that need to be resolved. In the part of software, the automatic labeling process of conventional synthesizing box is attached to and controlled by other equipments, causing problems of complexity in the process of operation and with its bulk software. As a consequence, the production yield would be low and resources would be wasted were the problems not resolved. 
         [0006]    In the prior art EP2488212/WO201133120A2, it developed a set of new labeling method for radioactive material. The prior art disclosed a method of obtaining  68 Ga from a  68 Ge/ 68 Ga radioisotope generator and a method of preparing  68 Ga-radiolabelled complexes using the obtained  68 Ga that comprise elution of the generator with an aqueous chloride ion solution and an apparatus for carrying out the  68 Ga metal complex formation. Nevertheless, the hardware has shortcomings in the aspect of process, construction, layout and arrangement. It needs to be solved to avoid yield decreasing and resources wasting. 
         [0007]    In the prior art EP2467365/WO2011020907, it disclosed a method of labeling biological targeting molecules (BTMs) of interest with radioiodine, preparing radioiodine BTMs and radiopharmaceutical compositions, and of vivo imaging processing. Since the software is loaded in and controlled by other equipments, a large number of data and program are built in chips, causing complexity in manipulation and high failure rate. Therefore, it is important to solve the problems of manipulation complexity and bulk software involved to avoid yield decreasing and resources wasting. 
         [0008]    To overcome the drawbacks, the present invention tends to provide an automatic synthesizer apparatus for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE and method to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic synthesizer apparatus for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE with downscale software program in the operation process to minimize its failure rate. 
         [0010]    Another objective of the invention provides an automatic synthesizer apparatus and method for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE with one button control process to effectively isolate the medication in vials from environment contamination and manual operations for saving cost of investment for contamination free production. 
         [0011]    Another objective of the invention is to provide an automatic synthesizer apparatus and method that allows the use of a plurality of reagent vials containing reagents required in the process, a plurality of collection vials for receiving solutions after reaction or purification in the process and the final product of Gallium-68-DOTATATE dissolved in absolute ethanol by means of a programmable process to control the output of each reagent vial and the reception of each collection vial to produce the product of Gallium-68-DOTATATE with high yield and without contamination. 
         [0012]    Another objective of the invention is to provide an automatic synthesizer apparatus and method that allows the process for producing Gallium-68-DOTATATE in four stages including injection of solution, oxidation reaction, interruption and neutralization, filtration and collection. The apparatuses used in the present invention comprise each unit module being configured and controlled by software program for the completion of these four stages in an automatic operation. 
         [0013]    Another objective of the invention is to provide an automatic synthesizer apparatus and method that allows the production of Gallium-68-DOTATATE simply by placing reaction medicines in specified vials, turning on power and starting the operation system. The medication preparation can be completed in a short period of time to provide in-time clinical diagnostic use. 
         [0014]    The automatic synthesizer apparatus for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE of the present invention can be exploited in the development of radiopharmaceutical for PET, and the technology can be extended to related diagnostic applications with tumor imaging agent. The technology of present invention is also applicable to the related industries of radiopharmaceutical development and manufacturing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a computerized operational interface diagram of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a logic diagram of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is example one of embodiment of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is example two of embodiment of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a computerized operational interface diagram of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE. The system started with initiating program in computer for the selection of connection port between the computer and the apparatus of the present invention, and followed by pressing the connection button on the operational panel of the apparatus. When the operation process completed, the program is ended and a record file output.txt will be generated by the system for recording values of time, humidity and sensors, which can be initiated for output to work for the system. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE. In the  FIG. 2 , R 1 -R 4  denote reagent vials, of which the first reagent vial R 1  filled with 0.6M or 0.1M hydrochloride 4 mL with gallium-68 nuclides; the second reagent vial R 2  filled with sodium acetate 2.5M 1.5 ml, the third reagent vial R 3  filled with a DOTATATE solution 50 μl or deionized water (DI water) 8 ml alternatively; the fourth reagent vial R 4  filled with absolute ethanol 1.1 ml; V 1 -V 5  denote collection vials, and V 6  denotes a reserve collection vial, of which the first collection vial V 1  contains solution of hydrochloride, acetate sodium and DOTATATE with gallium-68 nuclide obtained through reaction in the Gallium-68-DOTATATE reactor G 1  and purification in the C-18 reversed chromatography column (C-18 RPC) C 1 ; the second collection vial V 2  contains DI water eluent through the Gallium-68-DOTATATE reactor G 1  and the C-18 reversed chromatography column C 1 ; the third collection vial V 3  contains DI water eluent directly through the C-18 reversed chromatography column C 1 ; the fourth collection vial V 4  contains absolute ethanol eluent; and the fifth collection vial V 5  contains solution of Gallium-68-DOTATATE dissolved in absolute ethanol. 
         [0023]    In the  FIG. 2 , A 1 -A 8  denote solenoid valves for process control, of which the first solenoid valve A 1  controls flow of the gallium-68 radioactive solution in the first reagent vial R 1  in or out of the vial, if the impurity is high or the gallium-68 radioactive solution is in excess, the first solenoid valve A 1  will let the solution flow to waste vial W 1 ; the second solenoid valve A 2  controls flow of the DI water into the GA-68-DOTATATE reactor G 1  and the C-18 reversed phase chromatography column C 1  the third solenoid valve A 3  controls flow of the absolute ethanol into the GA-68-DOTATATE reactor G 1  and the C-18 reversed phase chromatography column C 1 , the fourth solenoid valve A 4  controls flow of hydrochloric acid, sodium acetate and DOTATATE with gallium-68 nuclide after being mixed and heated in the GA-68-DOTATATE reactor G 1  and passing through C-18 reversed phase chromatography column C 1  before being collected in the first collection vial V 1 , and controls flow of the DI water eluent into the second collection vial V 2 ; the fifth solenoid valve A 5  control flow of the DI water eluent into the third collection vial V 3 ; the sixth solenoid valve A 6  controls flow of solution after passing through C-18 reversed phase chromatography column C 1  to the fifth solenoid valve A 5  or the seventh solenoid valve A 7 ; the seventh solenoid valve A 7  controls flow of the absolute ethanol eluent into the fourth collection vial V 4  and through the eighth solenoid valve A 8  into the fifth collect vials V 5 ; the eighth A 8  solenoid valve controls flow of absolute ethanol eluent to the fifth collect vials V 5  or into the reserve vial V 6 ; 
         [0024]    The details of the operation process will be described in the  FIG. 3 . By use of the software program, the process control of the present invention only needs to press “CONNECT” button or “DISCONNECT” button, simplifying the process control and solving problems encountered with bulk software programs in the conventional equipment. 
         [0025]    In the  FIG. 3 , the logic diagram of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention is described in four stages, excluding the portion of prior art within the dotted area. 
         [0026]    (1) From first reagent vial R 1 : With the first micro pump P 1 , the GA-68 containing 0.6M or 0.1M hydrochloride eluent 4 ml is used for washing Tin dioxide or Titanium dioxide contained in the generator G 0 , and conveying the product thus obtained into the GA-68-DOTATATE reactor G 1 , and the redundant hydrochloride will be fed into the waste vial W 1 . 
         [0027]    (2) From second reagent vial R 2 : With the second micro pump P 2 , pumping 2.5M sodium acetate 1.5 ml into GA-68-DOTATATE reactor G 1 , heating up to 95 degree C., and, after two minutes, conveying into C-18 reversed phase chromatography column C 1  for purification and being collected in collection vial V 1 . 
         [0028]    (3) From third reagent vial R 3 : With the third pump P 3 , conveying DI water 2 ml from the third reagent vial R 3  through GA-68-DOTATATE reactor G 1  and C-18 reversed phase chromatography column C 1  into the collection vial V 2 , and the other 6 ml DI water being fed directly into C-18 reversed phase chromatography column C 1  and then collected in the collection vial V 3 . 
         [0029]    (4) From fourth reagent vial R 4 : With the fourth pump P 4 , pumping the 0.6 ml absolute ethanol into GA-68-DOTATATE reactor G 1 , and through C-18 reversed phase chromatography column C 1  for purification, then collected in the fourth collection vial V 4 , and the other 0.5 ml absolute ethanol fed through C-18 reversed phase chromatography column C 1 , then the purified GA-68-DOTATATE collected in the fifth collection vial V 5  as final product of the present invention. 
         [0030]    In the  FIG. 4 , the flow diagram of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention is shown for producing Gallium-68-DOTATATE, including steps: 
         [0031]    Step S 1 : adding GA-68 containing 4 ml hydrochloride into GA-68-DOTATATE reactor, wherein the GA-68 containing hydrochloride is obtained by use of GA-68 containing 0.6M hydrochloride eluent washing in GA-68 Tin dioxide generator or 0.1M hydrochloride eluent washing in GA-68 Titanium dioxide and the radioactivity of GA-68 to be determined less than 630MBq, the high impurity or redundant GA-68 radioactive liquid will be fed into waste vial W 1 . 
         [0032]    Step S 2 : adding 2.5 M sodium acetate 1.5 ml as PH buffer. 
         [0033]    Step S 3 : adding 50 μL of the mixture of DOTATATE and DI water in a ratio of 1 mg/ml into GA-68-DOTATATE reactor. 
         [0034]    Step S 4 : heating the mixture of Step S 1  through S 3  in the GA-68-DOTATATE reactor at a range of 90-95 degree C. about two minutes for radioactive labeling. 
         [0035]    Step S 5 : feeding absolute ethanol 4 ml through C-18 RPC C 1  first, followed by DI water 2 ml through C-18 RPC C 1  for the pretreatment. 
         [0036]    Step S 6 : feeding the product from S 4  through C-18 RPC C 1  with speed at 1-1.5 ml/min and then into the first collection vial V 1 . 
         [0037]    Step S 7 : feeding DI water through GA-68-DOTATATE reactor, then C-18 RPC, and into the second collection vial V 2 . 
         [0038]    Step S 8 : feeding 6 ml DI water through C-18 RPC into the third collection vial V 3 . 
         [0039]    Step S 9 : feeding absolute ethanol through GA-68-DOTATATE reactor G 1 , then C-18 RPC, and into the fourth collection vial V 4 . 
         [0040]    Step S 10 : feeding absolute ethanol through C-18 RPC and obtained the product 0.5 ml GA-68-DOTATATE in the fifth collection vial V 5 . 
         [0041]    In the  FIG. 5 , the example one of embodiment of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention is described for producing Gallium-68-DOTATATE, including six stages: 
         [0042]    In Stage 1, including (1) step  1 : preparation of 0.6M GA-68 containing hydrochloride 4 ml, obtained by use of GA-68 containing 0.6M hydrochloride eluent washing through Tin dioxide based Ga-68 generator, and the radioactivity to be determined larger than 630MBq; (2) step  11 : preparation of 50 μL mixture of DOTATATE and DI water in a ratio of 1 mg/ml; (3) step  12 : preparation of 2.5 M sodium acetate 1.5 ml as pH buffer. 
         [0043]    In Stage 2, including (1) step  2 : mixing the products obtained from step  1 ,  11 ,  12  in GA-68-DOTATATE reactor; (2) step  21 : heating the mixture product from step  2  at 90˜95 degree C. about two minutes; (3) step  3 : feeding absolute ethanol 4 ml, then DI water 2 ml through 3 cc, 500 mg C-18 RPC for pretreatment, and feeding the product from step  21  through C-18 RPC into collection vial V 1 ; 
         [0044]    In Stage 3, including (1) step  22 : feeding 2 ml of DI water through GA-68-DOTATATE reactor following the completion of Stage 2, then through C-18 RPC, and into the second collection V 2 . 
         [0045]    In Stage 4, including (1) step  31 : feeding 6 ml DI water through C-18 RPC following the completion of Stage 3, and into the third collection vial V 3 . 
         [0046]    In Stage 5, including (1) step  23 : feeding 0.6 ml absolute ethanol through GA-68-DOTATATE reactor following the completion of Stage 4, then C-18 RPC, and into the fourth collection vial V 4 . 
         [0047]    In Stage 6, including (1) step  32 : feeding 0.5 ml absolute ethanol through C-18 RPC after completion of Stage 5, and finally into the fifth collection vial V 5  to obtain the product of 0.5 ml GA-68-DOTATATE. 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  is example two of embodiment of the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention for producing Gallium-68-DOTATATE, including 6 stages: 
         [0049]    In the Stage 1, including (1) step  1 : preparation of 0.1M GA-68 containing 4 ml hydrochloride, obtained by use of 0.1M GA-68 containing hydrochloride eluent washing through Titanium dioxide based Ga-68 generator, and the radioactivity to be measured at value larger than 630MBq; (2) step  11 : preparation of 50 μL mixture of 50 μg DOTATATE and DI water in a ratio of 1 mg/ml; (3) step  12 : preparation of 2.5 M sodium acetate 0.3 ml as PH buffer. 
         [0050]    In Stage 2, including (1) step  2 : mixing the products obtained in step  1 ,  11 ,  12  from Stage 1 in GA-68-DOTATATE reactor; (2) step  21 : heating the mixture product from step  2  at 90˜95 degree C. about two minutes; (3) step  3 : feeding absolute ethanol 4 ml, then DI water 2 ml through 3 cc, 500 mg C-18 RPC for pretreatment, and feeding the product from step  21  through C-18 RPC into collection vial V 1 ; 
         [0051]    In Stage 3, including (1) step  22 : feeding 2 ml DI water through GA-68-DOTATATE reactor following the completion of Stage 2, then through C-18 RPC, and into the second collection V 2 . 
         [0052]    In Stage 4, including (1) step  31 : feeding 6 ml DI water through C-18 RPC following the completion of Stage 3, and into the third collection vial V 3 . 
         [0053]    In Stage 5, including (1) step  23 : feeding 0.6 ml absolute ethanol through GA-68-DOTATATE reactor following the completion of Stage 4, then C-18 RPC, and into the fourth collection vial V 4 . 
         [0054]    In Stage 6, including (1) step  32 : feeding 0.5 ml absolute ethanol through C-18 RPC after completion of Stage 5, and finally into the fifth collection vial V 5  to obtain the product of 0.5 ml GA-68-DOTATATE. 
         [0055]    From the above mentioned description, the automatic synthesizer apparatus of the present invention for producing radiopharmaceutical tumor imaging agent Gallium-68-DOTATATE has advantages including improving yield of production, simplifying the process of control, and solving problems encountered with bulk software programs associated with the conventional equipments. 
         [0056]    The foregoing invention has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations, changes, modifications and alterations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods described herein without departing from the true spirit, concept and scope of the invention.