Processing of Generator-Produced 68Ga for Medical Application

The 68Ge/68Ga generator provides an excellent source of positron-emitting 68Ga. However, newly available ‘‘ionic’’ 68Ge/68Ga radionuclide generators are not necessarily optimized for the synthesis of 68Ga-labeled radiopharmaceuticals. The elu-ates have rather large volumes, a high concentration of H1 (pH of 1), a breakthrough of 68Ge, increasing with time or frequency of use, and impurities such as stable Zn(II) generated by the decay of 68Ga, Ti(IV) as a constituent of the column material, and Fe(III) as a general impurity. Methods: We have developed an efficient route for the processing of generator-derived 68Ga eluates, in-cluding the labeling and purification of biomolecules. Precon-centration and purification of the initial generator eluate are performed using a miniaturized column with organic cation-exchanger resin and hydrochloric acid/acetone eluent. The puri-fied fraction was used for the labeling of nanomolar amounts o