Thesis (MScMedSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Radiolabelled compounds have been widely used as investigative tools for psychiatric disorders using positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission tomography (SPECT) of the brain. In particular 123I-5-IR91150, a serotonin (5-HT) 2a antagonist, has been used for imaging the serotonergic system. The current study developed optimal radiolabelling and purification methods in our laboratory with the objective that it can provide 123I- 5-I-R91150 in sufficient quantity and of acceptable pharmaceutical quality for human use. Unlabelled R91150 was obtained from Janssen Pharmaceutica (Beerse, Belgium). Carrier free [123I]Iodine was produced by iThemba LABS, South Africa, via the 127I(p,5n)123Xe-123I reaction, providing Na[123I] in 0.05 N sodium hydroxide with a specific activity of 4000-6000 MBq/ml. A direct electrophilic radioiodination method of labelling was used in this study for labelling 123-I-5-IR91150 in glacial acetic acid. After radiolabelling, the product was purified using two different methods, namely a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification method and a solid phase extraction (SPE) method. The analyses of the purified product for both methods were done using HPLC. Methods were tested to reduce the volume of the purified product using C8 or C18 solid phase extraction cartridges. The average labelling efficiencies for SPE and HPLC purification methods were 76% ± 13.6% and 52% ± 11.2% respectively. The yields of 123I-5-I-R91150 were about 80%. Sep-Pak C8 and C18 were both unable to concentrate the HPLC purified product. Products from both purification methods were sterile and pyrogen free. Both SPE and HPLC purification methods have been shown to provide products meeting most criteria set for this study. However, both methods have advantages and disadvantages. The SPE purification method provided higher labelling efficiency and a much lower product volume. The stability of this product is however of concern as some free iodide was detected. If this purification method is used, the product should therefore be administered as soon as possible after completion of analysis. After HPLC purification, the undiluted product remained stable up to 4.15 hours after production but the product volume was relatively high, and purification time-consuming. In order to obtain a useful patient dose, labelling would have to start with at least 740 MBq 123I and the labelled product should be collected in fractions of 5 ml or less in order to obtain a fraction of sufficiently high specific activity. It was concluded that radiolabeling R91150 is possible at our institution, but that an improved HPLC system would be of value for routine production of a pure and safe product. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Radioaktief gemerkte verbindings word baie gebruik as ondersoekmiddel vir psigiatriese afwykings met behulp van positron emissive tomografie (PET) of enkelfoton emissie tomografie (SPECT) van die brein. Die verbinding 123I-5-IR91150, ‘n serotonien (5-HT) 2a antagonis, is beskryf vir beelding van die serotonerge sisteem. Die huidige studie het ondersoek ingestel na optimale metodes vir radioaktiewe merking en suiwering vir ons laboratorium met die doel om 123I-5-I-R91150 in genoegsame hoeveelhed en van aanvaarbare farmaseutiese gehalte geskik vir menslike gebruik te verskaf. R91150 is van Janssen Pharmaceutica (Beerse, België) verkry. Draervry [123I]jodium is deur iThemba LABS, Suid-Afrika, via die 127I(p,5n)123Xe-123I reaksie geproduseer, om Na[123I] in 0.05 N natriumhidroksied met spesifieke aktiwiteit van 4000-6000 MBq/ml te lewer. ‘n Direkte elektrofiliese radioiodineringsmetode is in hierdie studie gebruik om 123-I-5-I-R91150 in ysasynsuur te merk. Na radioaktiewe merking is die radioaktiewe produk deur twee verskillende metodes gesuiwer, naamlik ‘n HPLC metode en ‘n soliede fase ekstraksie (SPE) metode. Vir beide metodes is die produk deur middel van HPLC analiseer. Metodes is getoets om die volume van die gemerkte produk met C8 of C18 SPE kolommetjies te verminder. Die gemiddelde bindingsdoeltreffendheid vir die SPE en HPLC suiweringsmetodes was 76% ± 13.6% en 52% ± 11.2% onderskeidelik. Die opbrengs van 123I-5-I-R91150 was ongeveer 80%. Sep-Pak C8 en C18 kon beide nie gebruik word om die HPLC gesuiwerde produk te konsentreer nie. Produkte van beide suiweringsmetodes was steriel en pirogeenvry. Daar is getoon dat beide suiweringsmetodes produkte lewer wat aan die meeste kriteria wat in hierdie studie gestel is, voldoen. Beide metodes het egter voor- en nadele. Die SPE suiweringsmetdode het tot hoër bindingsdoeltreffendheid gelei, asook ‘n baie laer produkvolume. Daar is egter ‘n mate van kommer oor die stabiliteit van die produk aangesien vry radiojodied waargeneem is. Indien hierdie suiweringsmetode gebruik word, moet die produk dus so gou as moontlik na voltooiing van analise toegedien word. Na HPLC suiwering was die onverdunde produk tot 4.15 uur na produksie stabiel maar die produkvolume was relatief hoog en suiwering tydrowend. Om ‘n bruikbare pasiëntdosis te verkry moet merking met ten minste 740 MBq 123I begin en die gemerkte produk moet na suiwering in fraksies van 5 ml of minder versamel word om ‘n fraksie met geskikte spesifieke aktiwiteit te verkry. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat radioaktiewe merking van R91150 by ons instelling moontlik is, maar dat ‘n verbeterde HPLC sisteem vir roetineproduksie van ‘n suiwer en veilige produk van waarde sou wees.

The use of the radioisotope 14C in polymer chemistry has been reviewed, showing how it has been used to investigate the mechanistic aspects of free radical polymerizations, and the use of polymers in other scientific disciplines such as environmental, physical, chemical and medical sciences. An overview of the application of fluorescent spectroscopy to polymer chemistry is also reported. It covers the fundamentals of fluorescence chemistry, its application and the potential problems of the use of fluorescent labels in polymer chemistry. The application of radioisotopes to atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) to investigate the fate of initiators used in the ATRP of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (2- HPMA) is also reported. By using 14C radiolabelled initiators, radio thin layer chromatography (Radio TLC) and the liquid scintillation counting of fractions, collected from gel permeation chromatography (GPC), the fate of the initiating species where monitored during the polymerization of samples of 14C poly(2-HPMA), with degrees of polymerization of 10, 25 and 50 was assessed. GPC and Radio TLC, data showed that there was an under-utilisation of the initiator, 16% clearly observable at high monomer conversion (>97%), which could result in the initiation of new chains at monomer conversions of >90% and as late as 300 minutes after the polymerisation had started. These results contradict ATRP theory which states all initiator is consumed immediately at the commencement of the polymerization. 14C poly(2-HPMA) was also used to determine the efficiencies of the polymer purification methods, flash chromatography and precipitation. Although repeated precipitation increased fractionation, it was shown to be superior to flash chromatography in removing residual unreacted or terminated initiator. Finally, the possible effects of fluorescent labels on adsorption of low molecular weight 14C poly(DEAEMA) onto real surfaces (filter paper, photo graphic paper and hair) from aqueous solutions at pH=2 were investigated. Three low molecular weight samples of 14C poly(DEAEMA) were prepared by ATRP using 14C labelled initiators synthesized from alcohols of increasing hydrophobicity i.e. methyl, benzyl and 9-hydroxyfluorene (fluorescent label). The levels of adsorption were determined using phosphor imaging, oxidation of organic samples and liquid scintillation counting. Results indicated that differences in the chemistry of the polymer end groups can affect adsorption of the 14C poly(DEAEMA) and polymer assembly at the air/water interface. There was greater adsorption of polymers with a fluorescent end group. The increasing deposition was attributed to the increasing hydrophobicity of the polymer end group. Moreover, the controlled placement of one fluorescent label per polymer chain can influence the polymer’s properties, prompting the question, is the use of fluorescent groups to assess polymer behaviour and properties viable?