Development of an automated production process of [64Cu][Cu (ATSM)] for positron emission tomography imaging and theranostic applications

Cyclotron‐produced copper‐64 radioisotope tracers offer the possibility to perform both diagnostic investigation by positron emission tomography (PET) and radiotherapy by a theranostic approach with bifunctional chelators. The versatile chemical properties of copper add to the importance of this isotope in medicinal investigation. [64Cu][Cu (ATSM)] has shown to be a viable candidate for imaging of tumor hypoxia; a critical tumor microenvironment characteristic that typically signifies tumor progression and resistance to chemo‐radiotherapy. Various production and radiosynthesis methods of [64Cu][Cu (ATSM)] exist in labs, but usually involved non‐standardized equipment with varying production qualities and may not be easily implemented in wider hospital settings. [64Cu][Cu (ATSM)] was synthesized on a modified GE TRACERlab FXN automated synthesis module. End‐of‐synthesis (EOS) molar activity of [64Cu][Cu (ATSM)] was 2.2–5.5 Ci/μmol (HPLC), 2.2–2.6 Ci/μmol (ATSM‐titration), and 3.0–4.4 Ci/μmol (ICP‐MS). Radiochemical purity was determined to be >99% based on radio‐HPLC. The final product maintained radiochemical purity after 20 h. We demonstrated a simple and feasible process development and quality control protocols for automated cyclotron production and synthesis of [64Cu][Cu (ATSM)] based on commercially distributed standardized synthesis modules suitable for PET imaging and theranostic studies. Various production methods of [64Cu][Cu (ATSM)] exist, but non‐standardized equipment results in varying production qualities often not easily implemented in wider hospital settings. [64Cu][Cu (ATSM)] was synthesized on a modified GE TRACERlab FXN automated synthesis module with high molar activity and good radiostability over 20 h. We demonstrate a simple and feasible synthesis of [64Cu][Cu (ATSM)] based on commercially distributed standardized synthesis modules suitable for PET imaging and theranostic studies of tumor microenvironment hypoxia.