Development of a high-performance liquid chromatography method for rapid radiochemical purity measurement of [18 F]PSMA-1007, a PET radiopharmaceutical for detection of prostate cancer

J Labelled Comp Radiopharm. 2023 Mar;66(3):58-72. doi: 10.1002/jlcr.4013. Epub 2023 Jan 31.

Abstract

Since first becoming commercially available in 2018, the PET radiopharmaceutical [18 F]PSMA-1007 has been used widely for the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer. A pharmacopoeia monograph first became available in 2021, prescribing a radiochemical purity specification of >91%, based on analytical results from both TLC (for [18 F]fluoride impurity alone) and HPLC (for all other 18 F-impurities). Though this monograph has provided clarity for the quality control testing of [18 F]PSMA-1007, it prescribes a HPLC method using phosphate buffer mobile phase that may present a risk of precipitation of phosphate salts in the HPLC system. The method also requires specialised hardware not immediately available to all laboratories. This work describes the development of a simple, rapid reversed-phase HPLC method utilising 0.1 M ammonium formate mobile phase for the accurate assessment of both [18 F]fluoride impurity and overall radiochemical purity in a single test. This method is especially useful for assessment of product stability over time. A more accurate TLC method for [18 F]fluoride impurity is also described.

Keywords: HPLC; PSMA-1007; TLC; fluoride; radiochemical purity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Fluorides
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Phosphates
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • PSMA-1007
  • Fluorides
  • Phosphates