Automatic Synthesis of ¹⁸F-6-F-L-DOPA and its Application in Clinical PET Imaging

¹⁸F-6-Fluoride-L-DOPA (¹⁸F-DOPA) has an important value in the imaging diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors. In this study, we used homemade Fluoride-module to synthesis ¹⁸F-DOPA and evaluate its clinical imaging. ¹⁸F-DOPA was synthesized by direct nucleophilic reaction with 6-boric acid-dimethoxy-L-DOPA as precursor, Cu(OTf)₂(py)₄ as catalyst, and hydrolysis by hydriodic acid. Quality control and the in vitro stability were preformed. The ¹⁸F-DOPA was confirmed PET imaging of neuroendocrine neoplasms and control. It took 60 minutes from ¹⁸F ions to ¹⁸F-DOPA, no corrected efficiency was （10.0±2.3）% (n=6), radiochemistry purity was over 99%. It could got 7.4 GBq of ¹⁸F-DOPA once time. The trace of ascorbic acid or ethanol could prevent radiolysis of ¹⁸F-DOPA. The striatum was seen at ¹⁸F DOPA imaging. The radioactivity were mainly extracted through kidney and urine. A positive lesion in pancreatic in patient with neuroendocrine tumor. ¹⁸F-DOPA was synthesized by direct nucleophilic reaction with homemade Fluoride-module. It could got good repeatability and high quality for clinical used.