Win4Doc | Automating the Production of Radiotracers for Medical Imaging

Radiotracers are small radioactive molecules used in medical imaging. Once injected into the body, they can bind to specific targets characteristic of a disease and emit radiation that can be detected by imaging devices. Juliette Liégeois, a doctoral student at the Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory (CBO) at UNamur, is working on these molecules as part of a thesis conducted in collaboration with the company Synlock. “You can compare them to GPS trackers. For example, they make it possible to precisely locate a tumor in the human body and then help the oncologist determine a treatment strategy,” she explains. 

But producing these molecules is a real challenge. Because they are radioactive and unstable, they must be synthesized quickly and under conditions that ensure the safety of the scientists. Their synthesis is therefore carried out using automated machines capable of performing the various steps in sequence without direct human intervention. However, a large portion of the automated systems currently in use still rely on technologies that do not easily accommodate certain newer synthesis methods developed in research laboratories. 

The goal of the SMART project is precisely to bridge this gap by adapting existing methods so they can be integrated into automated systems and to verify their effectiveness under conditions that closely resemble actual production. 

To achieve this, Juliette Liégeois is working on two techniques. Biocatalysis uses enzymes to carry out certain chemical reactions under milder conditions, while photocatalysis uses light to trigger these reactions. These two methods are often used in research but still need to be adapted to the constraints of automated machines. 

The project is also testing the Cheminizer, a technology developed by Synlock. This reactor rotates during the manufacturing process to better mix the various components and more effectively control the reactions. Its operation could, in particular, facilitate the use of light and enzymes.

The SMART project is based on the complementary strengths of UNamur and Synlock. The company contributes its expertise in the design of machinery and reactors, while UNamur’s Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory (CBO) contributes its knowledge of chemical reactions.