Choline C-11
Carbon-11-choline (choline C-11 or 11C-choline) is the most studied isotope carbon-11 PET radiopharmaceutical. The molecule is used for oncologic Imaging 1-4. Choline is one of the components of phosphatidylcholine, a fundamental element of cell membrane phospholipids 5. Cancer cells tend to have a high uptake of the radio-tracer; the increased uptake is presumed to be due to the increase in membrane phosphatidylcholine synthesis (up-regulation of the choline kinase enzyme) 6.
Physical characteristics of carbon-11
- Half-life: 20.38 minutes 7
- Emax (ß+): 961 KeV
- ß+ decay: 100%
Quality controls
If the 11C-choline is employed for brain imaging it is important that there is no 2-dimethylaminoethanol (the precursor used for synthesis) in the injectable solution. 2-dimethylaminoethanol (deanol), in fact, presents to consider with respect to choline a greater affinity for the transport molecules present on the blood-brain barrier 8.
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