18F-Fluorocholine

Researchers synthesize fluorine-based compound via rapid biphasic (gas and liquid) mixing. How short is one second? The duration of a second can be defined as one 86,400th of a 24-hour day. A bullet train traveling at 300 km per hour can cover a distance of 83 meters in one second. On average, an individual's blink lasts for 0.3 seconds, allowing for three blinks to occur within one second. A joint team of researchers from POSTECH has proposed a synthesis method for fluorine-based compound via a rapid mixing reaction between a gaseous component and liquid that takes less than a single second. The research team led by Professor Dong-Pyo Kim and Jeong-Un Joo (Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH), and Professor Heejin Kim and Hyune-Jea Lee (currently, a researcher at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology) from the Department of Chemistry at Korea University has successfully developed a new method for synthesizing trifluoromethyl intermediate (-CF3) from fluoroform (CHF3). It involves the use of a special reactor capable of achieving an ultra-fast mixing between gas and liquid. This method offers promising prospects for the synthesis of novel fluorine-based new drugs. The research was published in Nature Communications. Fluorine is not found in its pure form naturally, but instead exists solely in the form of various chemical compounds. Sodium fluoride, a compound containing fluorine, is used as an ingredient in toothpaste due to its ability to coat teeth and prevent cavities. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of synthetic drug molecules containing fluorine as they possess high permeability into cell membranes of diseased tissues and exhibit strong binding affinity against proteins. Consequently, there is growing interest in the development of drugs containing fluorine. There are several approaches to synthesizing trifluoromethyl, but the most cost-effective method involves substituting a hydrogen atom from fluoroform, a simple precursor, with another element or functional group. However, gaseous fluoroform is volatile, which makes it difficult to mix with liquids and exhibits low reactivity. Moreover, it decomposes instantly, requiring the addition of a substance that can react with it. Unfortunately, this process can result in unintended chemical reactions that lead to a low yield of trifluoromethyl. To address the challenge of synthesizing trifluoromethyl from fluoroform, the research team developed a novel gas-liquid reactor with a zigzag-shaped channel and highly permeable non-porous membranes sandwiched between upper and lower channels. This configuration allowed for the swirling and mixing of superbase, a liquid utilized for dehydrogenation, and gaseous fluoroform within the reactor. By breaking fluoroform bubbles into smaller pieces to increase the contact area between gas and liquid, the team was able to effectively produce trifluoromethyl anion (CF3-). Unlike traditional approaches, they produced a fluoride intermediate effectively without requiring stabilizers or additives. The research team synthesized a fluorine-based compound by immediately adding a compound that will react with the fluoride anion intermediate. The entire process, which involved the generation of a fluorine anion intermediate from fluoroform took place within a second. The team maximized the formation of a trifluoromethyl anion, which is known to be short-lived, and rapidly facilitated the subsequent reaction before the intermediate decomposed. This method allowed for improved yield of fluoride-based compounds and introduced a robust technique for the synthesis of fluorine-based drugs. The research findings have significant implications for industrial applications in the economically efficient synthesis of fluoride compounds, making them more practical as well contributing significantly to studies on several unstable intermediates. The study was conducted with the support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.

DUBLIN, Sept. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Prostate Cancer Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Type, PET Product, and End User" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global prostate cancer nuclear medicine diagnostics market is expected to grow from US$ 720.12 million in 2022 to US$ 1,315.66 million by 2028. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.6% from 2022 to 2028. Prostate cancer affects the prostate glands in males. Prostate cancer is common cancer following skin cancer in males. Common determinants responsible for prostate cancer are family history, old age, and race. Nuclear medicine is imaging that needs radioactive materials. It is a helpful method to identify and treat prostate cancer and helps radiologists conclude the stage of cancer. In terms of occurrence, prostate cancer (PCa) is the fourth most common cancer across the US. The rising incidences of prostate cancer in the country led to the increased use of nuclear medicines for its treatment. This cancer is more likely to grow in older adults. Thus, the rising cases of prostate cancer offer substantial growth opportunities for the prostate cancer nuclear medicine diagnostics market during the forecast period. Based on type, the prostate cancer nuclear medicine diagnostics market is bifurcated into SPECT and PET. The PET segment held the largest share of the market in 2021 and is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. A positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan is usually the most effective way to restage recurrent prostate cancer. After prostate cancer treatment, PET scanning may be used to determine the effectiveness of the treatment and is now commonly being used to detect biochemically recurrent prostate cancer for restaging. Rising research activities for developing novel imaging agents to improve prostate cancer detection and the development of novel imaging agents to improve prostate cancer detection are key factors driving the growth of nuclear medicine diagnostics. Researchers are conducting several studies to introduce new diagnostic agents for PET with higher efficiency than the existing agents. For instance, in March 2018, a study in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine demonstrated a novel PET agent named Copper-64 Chloride (64CuCl2) to detect prostate cancer. This new imaging agent exhibited a higher detection rate when compared with Fluorine-18-Choline (18F-choline). The adoption of PET as a diagnostic tool is significantly increasing, as it offers higher accuracy to that other diagnostic techniques. Accuracy in diagnosis has a direct impact on decision-making and treatment monitoring processes. Increasing demand for these diagnostic procedures is expected to fuel the growth of the prostate cancer nuclear medicine diagnostics market during the forecast period. Reimbursement policies is expected to further fuel the development of nuclear medicine diagnostics. Several programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Health Insurance programs in the US are expected to create growth opportunities for the market players. For instance, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) covers PET services through National Coverage Determination (NCD) which includes tracers necessary for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Therefore, due to the factors mentioned above, PET is expected to hold the largest market share. Key Market Dynamics Market Drivers Rising Prevalence of Prostate Cancer Surging Demand for Early and Precise Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer Market Restraints High Cost Related to the Prostate Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment Market Opportunities Growing Use of Radiopharmaceuticals in Prostate Cancer Future Trends Increasing Research Activities for Development of Innovative Imaging Agents Company Profiles Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited ImaginAB Curium Jubilant Radiopharma NCM-USA LLC ABX Advanced Biochemical Compounds GmbH Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Novartis AG Theragonostics Lantheus Medical Imaging Inc. For more information about this report visit Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: SOURCE Research and Markets