Breakthrough in Microfluidics: On-Demand Synthesis of Fluorine-18 in the Hospital Pharmacy

Our team at Pharma In-Minute has developed a groundbreaking microfluidic system that enables the 'on-demand' synthesis of short-lived radiopharmaceuticals, such as Fluorine-18 labeled compounds, directly in the hospital pharmacy. This technology eliminates the need for central production and long transport, preventing significant losses due to radioactive decay.

The system utilizes advanced glass microfluidic chips that enable a controlled and efficient synthesis process flow. The process scheme includes the following steps:

1. Supply of the radioactive isotope (e.g., [18F]fluoride).
2. Activation and drying in a microscopic reactor.
3. Labeling reaction with the precursor molecule.
4. Purification via an integrated micro-SPE channel.
5. Formulation into a sterile, injectable final product.

The benefits are clear: higher specific activity at the patient, less waste, and a faster, more flexible response to clinical demand. This opens the door to personalized dosages and new PET tracers for research.

The first clinical evaluations in collaboration with UMC Utrecht are promising and show a production efficiency of >70% and a total synthesis time of less than 25 minutes. The future of nuclear medicine is local, fast, and precise.