Detailed evaluation of different 68Ge/68Ga generators: an attempt toward achieving efficient 68Ga radiopharmacy

The present study is aimed at carrying out a comparative performance evaluation of different types of ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga generators to identify the best choice for use in ⁶⁸Ga‐radiopharmacy. Over the 1 year period of evaluation, the elution yields from the CeO₂‐based and SiO₂‐based ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga generators remained almost consistent, in contrast to the sharp decrease observed in the elution yields from TiO₂ and SnO₂‐based generators. The level of ⁶⁸Ge impurity in ⁶⁸Ga eluates from the CeO₂ and SiO₂‐based ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga generator was always <10^?3%, while this level increased from 10^?3% to 10^?1% in case of TiO₂ and SnO₂‐based generators. The level of chemical impurities in ⁶⁸Ga eluates from CeO₂ and SiO₂‐based ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga generators was negligibly low (<0.1 ppm) in contrast to the significantly higher level (1–20 ppm) of such impurities in eluates from other two generators. As demonstrated by radiolabeling studies carried out using DOTA‐coupled dimeric cyclic RGD peptide derivative (DOTA‐RGD₂), CeO₂‐PAN and SiO₂‐based generators are directly amenable for radiopharmaceutical preparation, whereas the other generators can be only used after post‐elution purification of ⁶⁸Ga eluates. Clinically relevant dose of ⁶⁸Ga‐DOTA‐RGD₂ was prepared in a hospital radiopharmacy for non‐invasive visualization of tumors in breast cancer patients using positron emission tomography.