High Yield [18F]F2 Targetry for 19 MeV Protons

An [18F]F2 target system using the 18O(p,n)18F reaction with 19 MeV protons on [18O]O2 gas has produced reliable end of bombardment yields up to 79 GBq (2.1 Ci) at specific activities up to 850 MBq/μmol. The aluminum body target operates on a two-step activation/recovery irradiation protocol. Up to 63 GBq (1.7 Ci) [18F]F2 has been recovered 35 minutes after gas activation. As much as 7.8 GBq (212 mCi) of the PET radiopharmaceutical L-6-[18F]fluoro-DOPA has been produced using [18F]F2 from this target