Microfluidic-based 18F-labeling of biomolecules for immuno-positron emission tomography

Mol Imaging. 2011 Jun;10(3):168-76, 1-7.

Abstract

Methods for tagging biomolecules with fluorine 18 as immuno-positron emission tomography (immunoPET) tracers require tedious optimization of radiolabeling conditions and can consume large amounts of scarce biomolecules. We describe an improved method using a digital microfluidic droplet generation (DMDG) chip, which provides computer-controlled metering and mixing of 18F tag, biomolecule, and buffer in defined ratios, allowing rapid scouting of reaction conditions in nanoliter volumes. The identified optimized conditions were then translated to bench-scale 18F labeling of a cancer-specific engineered antibody fragments, enabling microPET imaging of tumors in xenografted mice at 0.5 to 4 hours postinjection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fluorine Radioisotopes* / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Isotope Labeling / methods*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Microfluidics / methods*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / immunology*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Fluorine Radioisotopes
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen