18F-Radiopharmaceutical
Fluorine 18 is one of the most widely used radionuclides for radiopharmaceutical production for positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. Alfa Cytology is a preclinical contract research provider with extensive experience in radiopharmaceutical development, providing comprehensive 18F-labeled drug, imaging agent, and tracer development services.
Overview of 18F-Based Radiopharmaceuticals
18F-radiopharmaceuticals play a great role in molecular imaging, the diagnostics of diseases, and therapeutic monitoring due to their unique physicochemical properties. The approximately 110-minute half-life of 18F strikes an optimal balance - it provides sufficient time for the tracer to circulate in the body and generate high-quality images while minimizing excessive radiation exposure. This moderate half-life also enhances operational flexibility, making 18F suitable for a wide range of imaging and diagnostic applications. Additionally, the high efficiency of positron emission significantly improves image resolution and sensitivity, making 18F an ideal choice for tracers. These features enable precise targeting of biological sites and the detection of subtle metabolic changes.
Fig.1. 18F-FDG-PET showing uptake of the radiopharmaceutical drug in thyroid left lobe, L5 vertebrae, and pelvic bones. (Magalhaes Daniela, et al., 2022)
18F-Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals and Applications
Researchers continue to explore new 18F-labeled targets, including tracers for Alzheimer's disease (e.g., beta-amyloid and tau protein imaging agents), hypoxia markers for oncology, and metabolic tracers for cardiovascular studies. These emerging radiopharmaceuticals hold substantial clinical promise, especially as precision medicine advances, expanding the applications and impact of 18F-radiopharmaceuticals.
18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG)
18F-FDG, is a gold standard in cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disease imaging, offering reliable insights into glucose metabolism for early cancer detection and therapy monitoring.
18F-Fluoromisonidazole (18F-FMISO)
A hypoxia-imaging agent useful in prognosis due to the assessment of tumor microenvironment and for the planning of treatments in cancer. It is clinically approved in several parts of the world region.
18F-Fluorodopa (18F-FDOPA)
18F-Fluorodopa is a fluorine-18 labeled dopamine analog used in PET imaging to diagnose Parkinson’s disease and neuroendocrine tumors by showing dopamine metabolic activity with high sensitivity.
Our Services
Alfa Cytology offers comprehensive 18F-radiopharmaceutical, imaging agent, and tracer development services, supporting precise diagnosis development, molecular imaging research, and efficacy assessment across various disease areas.
Imaging and Tracer Agent Development Services
Comprehensive radiolabeling chemistry services to develop imaging and tracer agents targeting specific biomolecules and pathophysiological conditions.
18F-Based Agents Design and Labeling Synthesis
Employing advanced computational modeling and molecular design to customize the optimal 18F-labeling strategy for each client's specific needs.
Radiochemical Characterization
The assurance of high radiochemical purity and stability has to be done with a view to quality and regulatory compliance.
In Vitro and In Vivo Stability and Distribution Analysis
Among the quality assurance issues in imaging, verification of the stability of the radiolabeled compound and its metabolic characteristics and distribution in target tissues are very important.
PK/PD Studies
Providing detailed PK/PD data to enable target specificity, effective dose estimates, and half-life optimization.
Alfa Cytology offers a robust platform for high-resolution PET imaging and data analysis to evaluate the in vivo performance of various imaging agents and tracers to promote your development project.
- Oncological Imaging
- Neurological Imaging
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Inflammatory & Infectious Imaging
- Time-Activity Curve (TAC) Analysis
- Quantitative Imaging Analysis
- Radiation Dosimetry Analysis
18F Conjugation Service
Alfa Cytology is equipped with cutting-edge PET imaging systems, radiolabeling synthesis platforms, and advanced data analysis capabilities, enabling the full spectrum of radiopharmaceutical synthesis and preclinical imaging. Our laboratories adhere to stringent quality and safety standards to ensure the reliability and reproducibility of all data.For more information on our 18F-labeled radiopharmaceutical, imaging agent, or tracer development services, please contact us.
Reference
- Magalhaes Daniela, et al. (2018). Seemingly Harmless Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma Presenting as Bone Metastasis. Case Reports in Endocrinology. 1-6.
For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.
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