Devices and methods for radiopharmaceutical synthesis
Inventors
Manning, H. Charles • Nickels, Michael L. • Zhang, Xin • Bellan, Leon M.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12589170-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
A device for synthesizing a radioisotope-labelled target tracer includes a microfluidic chip having an SCX module configured to concentrate and capture a radioisotope from a radioisotope solution and release the captured radioisotope therefrom, an SAX module configured to purify the released radioisotope from the SCX module, and an passive in-plane mixing/reaction module configured to mix the purified radioisotope with a target precursor and perform labelling reaction to synthesize the radioisotope-labelled target tracer therein. The device also includes a heating means positioned in relation to the microfluidic chip for heating the microfluidic chip during the labelling reaction; and a first valve fluidically coupled with the SCX and SAX modules and a second valve fluidically coupled with the SAX module and the in-plane mixing/reaction module for operably controlling transit of various substances or mixtures among the SCX module, the SAX modules and the in-plane mixing/reaction module.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a device for synthesizing a radioisotope-labelled target tracer using an integrated microfluidic chip with a strong cation exchange (SCX) module, a strong anion exchange (SAX) module, and a passive in-plane mixing and reaction module. The SCX module is configured to cationically concentrate and capture a radioisotope from a radioisotope solution delivered from a radioisotope generator, and then release the captured radioisotope. The SAX module is in fluidic communication with the SCX module and anionically purifies the released radioisotope.
The passive in-plane mixing and reaction module is in fluidic communication with the SAX module, and it mixes the purified radioisotope with a target precursor to synthesize the radioisotope-labelled target tracer by performing a labelling reaction within the reaction module. The passive in-plane mixing and reaction module comprises a flow focusing means, a mixing channel, and a reaction chamber. The flow focusing means is disposed at a mixing channel entrance and is configured to flow focus the purified radioisotope and the target precursor onto the mixing channel such that they mix in the mixing channel to form a mixture for loading into the reaction chamber.
The flow focusing means comprises a target precursor inlet, a first radioisotope inlet, and a second radioisotope inlet, where the first and second radioisotope inlets enable portions of the purified radioisotope to flow into the focusing means in first and second flow directions facing each other. The target precursor inlet enables injection of the target precursor into the focusing means in a third flow direction having an angle greater than zero relative to the first and second flow directions. Heating means positioned proximate to the microfluidic chip heats the microfluidic chip during the labelling reaction, and first and second valves operably control transit among the SCX module, the SAX module, and the passive in-plane mixing and reaction module.
Claims Coverage
The document’s independent claim defines an integrated microfluidic device architecture centered on SCX capture, SAX purification, passive in-plane flow-focusing mixing/reaction, proximate heating, and valve-controlled transit.
Integrated SCX-SAX-passive in-plane mixing and reaction microfluidic synthesis
A microfluidic chip with an SCX module configured to cationically concentrate and capture a radioisotope and release it, a SAX module in fluidic communication to anionically purify the released radioisotope, and a passive in-plane mixing and reaction module in fluidic communication to mix the purified radioisotope with a target precursor and synthesize a radioisotope-labelled target tracer by performing a labelling reaction.
Proximate heating during the labelling reaction
Heating means positioned proximate to the microfluidic chip for heating the microfluidic chip during the labelling reaction.
Valve-controlled transit among modules
A first valve fluidically coupled with the SCX module and the SAX module and a second valve fluidically coupled with the SAX module and the passive in-plane mixing and reaction module, wherein the valves operably control transit among the modules.
Flow-focusing mixing with angled target precursor injection
A passive in-plane mixing and reaction module comprising a flow focusing means, a mixing channel, and a reaction chamber, where the flow focusing means at a mixing channel entrance flow focuses the purified radioisotope and the target precursor onto the mixing channel to mix and form a mixture for loading into the reaction chamber, with the flow focusing means including a target precursor inlet, a first radioisotope inlet, and a second radioisotope inlet; the first and second radioisotope inlets drive first and second flow directions that face each other and the target precursor is injected in a third flow direction at an angle greater than zero relative to the first and second flow directions.
Overall, the claim coverage concentrates on an integrated microfluidic synthesis device that captures a radioisotope on an SCX module, purifies it on an SAX module, and performs labelling in a passive in-plane flow-focusing mixing and reaction module, with proximate heating and first and second valves for controlling transit between modules.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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