Project description:Whilst radiopharmaceuticals have an important role to play in both imaging and treatment of patients, most notably cancer patients, nuclear medicine and radiopharmacy are currently facing challenges to create innovative new drugs. Traditional radiopharmaceutical manufacture can be considered as either a routine hospital production or a large-scale industrial production. The gap between these two practices has meant that there is an inability to supply innovative radiopharmaceuticals for use at the local level for mono- or multicentric clinical trials with satisfactory quality and safety specifications. This article highlights the regulatory requirements in aseptic pharmaceutical processing and in nuclear medicine to be able to locally produce radiopharmaceuticals. We validate the proof-of-concept for an "in-house" hospital-based radiopharmacy including an on-site cyclotron, that can fulfill the conflicting requirements between radiation safety and aseptic processing. The ARRONAX in-house radiopharmacy is currently able to provide sterile and pyrogenic-free injectable radiopharmaceutical compounds for both industrial and institutional clinical trials.
Project description:BackgroundThe Editorial Board of EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry releases a biyearly highlight commentary to update the readership on trends in the field of radiopharmaceutical development.ResultsThis commentary of highlights has resulted in 23 different topics selected by each member of the Editorial Board addressing a variety of aspects ranging from novel radiochemistry to first in man application of novel radiopharmaceuticals and also a contribution in relation to MRI-agents is included.ConclusionTrends in (radio)chemistry and radiopharmacy are highlighted demonstrating the progress in the research field being the scope of EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry.
Project description:BackgroundThe Editorial Board of EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry releases a biannual highlight commentary to update the readership on trends in the field of radiopharmaceutical development.Main bodyThis selection of highlights provides commentary on 21 different topics selected by each coauthoring Editorial Board member addressing a variety of aspects ranging from novel radiochemistry to first-in-human application of novel radiopharmaceuticals.ConclusionTrends in radiochemistry and radiopharmacy are highlighted. Hot topics cover the entire scope of EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry, demonstrating the progress in the research field, and include new PET-labelling methods for 11C and 18F, the importance of choosing the proper chelator for a given radioactive metal ion, implications of total body PET on use of radiopharmaceuticals, legislation issues and radionuclide therapy including the emerging role of 161Tb.
Project description:BackgroundRecent advances in nanotechnology have offered new hope for cancer detection, prevention, and treatment. Nanomedicine, a term for the application of nanotechnology in medical and health fields, uses nanoparticles for several applications such as imaging, diagnostic, targeted cancer therapy, drug and gene delivery, tissue engineering, and theranostics.ResultsHere, we overview the current state-of-the-art of radiolabeled nanoparticles for molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy. Nanostructured radiopharmaceuticals of technetium-99m, copper-64, lutetium-177, and radium-223 are discussed within the scope of this review article.ConclusionNanoradiopharmaceuticals may lead to better development of theranostics inspired by ingenious delivery and imaging systems. Cancer nano-theranostics have the potential to lead the way to more specific and individualized cancer treatment.
Project description:BackgroundThe purpose of this work was to design, validate and implement a media-fill test combined with fluorescein (MFT-F) for the specific qualification and training of radiopharmacy operators, in accordance with United States Pharmacopeia General Chapter 797 and European Good Manufacturing Practices. MFT-F was embedded in the quality management system of our radiopharmacy unit. Its validation involved fluorescein concentration choice, media growth promotion test and evaluation protocol controls (with or without intentional aseptic mistakes). Each operator was evaluated following a three-part evaluation form. Evaluation criteria related to garbing and hygiene, fluorescent contamination and bacteriological contamination (pre- and post-evaluation environment controls and MFT-F samples). Combined MFT-F allowed the assessment of aseptic compounding skills and non-contamination of the working area through a single evaluation. It was also designed to fit the constraints of radiopharmacy common practice related to radiation protection equipment and to the small volumes handled.ResultsA 0.01% fluorescein concentration was chosen to prepare MFT-F. Addition of fluorescein in the culture medium did not jeopardize its growth properties according to growth promotion test. Eleven operators were evaluated and carried out 3 MFT-F over 3 successive days. Pre- and post-evaluation bacteriological controls of every session showed no CFU of microbiological contaminant above 5. All operators validated the garbing and hygiene evaluation, with an average score of 92.7%. All operators validated the fluorescent contamination evaluation, with an average score of 29.4 out of 30. None of the MFT-F samples showed any visible bacterial growth after incubation.ConclusionsCombined MFT-F, as a part of a comprehensive sterile compounding training program, appeared as a convenient and promising tool to increase both the sterile compounding safety and awareness of radioactive contamination in radiopharmacy.
Project description:ATAC-Seq was carried out on isolated nuclei obtained from induced Pluripotnent Stem Cells (iPSC) cell lines. These lines were derived from ALS, SMA and Control (unaffected) individuals (three of each).