title: The separation and detection of PET tracers via capillary electrophoresis for chemical identity and purity analysis.
abstract: CE coupled with UV detection was assessed as a possible platform for the chemical identity and purity analysis of positron emission tomography (PET) tracers using [(18)F]FAC and [(18)F]FLT as examples. Representative samples containing mixtures of the tracers plus well-known impurities, as well as real radioactive samples (formulated for injection), were analyzed. Using MEKC with SDS in a neutral phosphate buffer, the separation of all compounds in the samples was achieved with baseline resolutions in less than 4.5min and 3min for FLT and FAC samples, respectively. In comparison to the gold-standard for chemical analysis (i.e. HPLC/UV), we have demonstrated improvements in analysis times, and comparable LOD. Although the reproducibility in migration time is slightly lower than that of the HPLC, identification of the compounds was still possible due to good peak separation. In addition, we show that CE can be used to identify and quantify Krytofix2.2.2 (a toxic and commonly used phase transfer catalyst) in less than 2min and with a LOD of 45μg/mL (non-optimized). These results demonstrate adequate performance for chemical identity and purity analysis. Combined with the potential for miniaturization into a microchip format, these results suggest the potential of CE as an integral part of a miniaturized quality control system for PET tracers.
authors.affiliation: Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging and Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Shilin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Department, University of California, 410 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ly
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Department, University of California, 410 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazari
authors.affiliation: Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging and Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Saman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.affiliation: Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging and Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Pei Yuin
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Keng
authors.affiliation: Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging and Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Bioengineering Department, University of California, 410 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: mvandam@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: R Michael
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: van Dam
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011786:Quality Control; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D011849:Radioactive Tracers
keywords: Capillary electrophoresis; Chemical purity; Micellar electrokinetic chromatography; Positron emission tomography; Quality control