System for purification and analysis of radiochemical products yielded by microfluidic synthesis devices

1. A system for manipulating a radiolabeled compound-containing reaction mixture, the system comprising:

i) a microfluidic analytical device comprising a microfluidic detection flow channel having an inlet and an outlet;

ii) a first radiometric detector coupled to the top of the detection flow channel; and a second radiometric detectors coupled to the bottom of to the detection flow channel, for generating a signal corresponding to detection of the radiolabel in the detection flow channel, wherein said signal is registered simultaneously by both detectors, wherein the first and the second detectors are both operatively attached to a controller, the controller is configured so that any radiation signal not simultaneously received by both detectors is excluded from processing;

iii) a spectrophotometric source for providing light to the detection flow channel;

iv) a spectrophotometric detector for generating a spectrophotometric signal corresponding to detection of light from the detection flow channel to determine chemical identity and purity of the sample in the detection flow channel; and

v) a high pressure liquid chromatography column onto which the reaction mixture can be loaded, the column having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the column being configured to receive the reaction mixture, and the outlet of the column being connected in fluid communication with the inlet of the detection flow channel of the device, wherein the column is selected such that the column can separate and purify the radiolabeled compound from the reaction mixture containing radiolabeled and non radiolabeled impurities;

whereby when fluid containing the radiolabeled compound flows from the column into the detection flow channel, the radiometric detectors generate the signal and the spectrophotometric detector generates a spectrophotometric signal substantially simultaneously corresponding to the radiolabeled compound.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the analytical device further defines a waste channel and a sample channel having an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the device further comprises a first microfluidic valve that is actuatable between

a) a sample position fluidly connecting the detection flow channel and the inlet of the sample channel and

b) a waste position fluidly connecting the detection flow channel and the waste channel.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first micro fluidic valve is operatively connected with at least one radiometric detector, whereby occurrence of both the spectrophotometric signal and at least one radiometric corresponding to the radiolabeled compound actuates the first microfluidic valve into the sample position.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the outlet of the sample channel is fluidly connected with a sample reservoir.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sample reservoir is fluidly connected with the detection flow channel by way of a second microfluidic valve that is actuatable between

a) an open position fluidly connecting the sample reservoir and the detection flow channel and

b) a closed position in which the sample reservoir and the detection flow channel are not fluidly connected,

whereby a fluid in the sample reservoir can be transferred to the detection flow channel when the second microfluidic valve is in the open position.

6. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a radiation shield interposed between the sample reservoir and at least one radiometric detector.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the substrate further defines a waste channel and a sample channel having an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the device further comprises a first microfluidic valve that is operatively connected with the controller and that is actuatable between

a) a sample position fluidly connecting the detection flow channel and the inlet of the sample channel and

b) a waste position fluidly connecting the detection flow channel and the waste channel.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the spectrophotometric source provides light to the detection flow channel via a first fiber optic cable and wherein the spectrophotometric detector detects light from the detection flow channel via a second fiber optic cable.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the spectrophotometric source provides UV light to the detection flow channel.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the spectrophotometric detector detects UV light from the detection flow channel.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the analytical device further defines a waste channel and a sample channel having an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the device further comprises a first microfluidic valve that is actuatable, by a controller operatively connected with the spectrophotometric detector, between

a) a sample position fluidly connecting the detection flow channel and the inlet of the sample channel and

b) a waste position fluidly connecting the detection flow channel and the waste channel.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fraction collector actuatable by the spectrophotometric signal and the radiometric signal corresponding to the radiolabeled compound.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a sample collection vial that is placed in fluid communication with the outlet of the detection flow channel when the fraction collector is actuated.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the vial has a solvent removal system associated therewith for evaporating solvent from the vial.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the volume of the detection flow channel is from approximately 1 to approximately 10 microliters.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the volume of the detection flow cell is about 1 microliter.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a check valve fluidly connected with the inlet of the column.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a radiation shield interposed between the column and at least one radiometric detector.

19. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a microfluidic radio-synthesis device coupled with the inlet of the column.

20. A method of manipulating a radiolabeled compound-containing reaction mixture, the method comprising:

i) passing the reaction mixture through a system comprising

a) a high pressure liquid chromatography column selected such that the column can separate and purify the radiolabeled compound from the reaction mixture containing radiolabeled and non radiolabeled impurities, the column having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the column being configured to receive the reaction mixture, and the outlet of the column being connected in fluid communication with the inlet of the detection flow channel of

b) a microfluidic analytical device comprising a microfluidic detection flow channel having an inlet and an outlet; the device having coupled thereto

1) a first radiometric detector coupled to the top of the detector flow channel and a second radiometric detectors coupled to the bottom of the detection flow channel, for generating a signal corresponding to detection of the radiolabel in the detection flow channel, wherein said signal is registered simultaneously by both detectors; and wherein the first and the second detectors are both operatively attached to a controller, the controller is configured so that any radiation signal not simultaneously received by both detectors is excluded from processing; and

wherein the first and second radiometric detectors are both operatively attached to a controller, and the controller is configured so that any radiation signal not simultaneously received by both detectors is excluded from processing;

2) a spectrophotometric source for providing light to the detection flow channel; and

3) a spectrophotometric detector for generating a spectrophotometric signal corresponding to detection of light from the detection flow; and

ii) collecting a sample from the outlet of the detection flow channel when a spectrophotometric signal and the radiometric signal corresponding to the radiolabeled compound occur substantially simultaneously ,

whereby the collected sample contains the radiolabeled compound.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the substrate further defines a waste channel and a sample channel having an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the device further comprises a first microfluidic valve that is actuatable between

I) a sample position fluidly connecting the detection flow channel and the inlet of the sample channel and

II) a waste position fluidly connecting the detection flow channel and the waste channel, wherein the sample is collected by way of the sample channel with the first microfluidic valve in the sample position.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the first microfluidic valve is operatively connected with at least one radiometric detector and wherein the first microfluidic valve is actuated into the sample position by occurrence of at least one radiometric signal.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the sample is collected in a sample reservoir fluidly connected with the outlet of the sample channel.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the sample reservoir is fluidly connected with the detection flow channel by way of a second microfluidic valve that is actuatable between

I) an open position fluidly connecting the sample reservoir and the detection flow channel and

II) a closed position in which the sample reservoir and the detection flow channel are not fluidly connected,

the method further comprising actuating the second microfluidic valve into the open position and transferring an aliquot of the sample from the sample reservoir to the detection flow channel.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the substrate further defines a waste channel and a sample channel having an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the device further comprises a first microfluidic valve that is actuatable, by a controller operatively connected with each of the first and second radiometric detectors, between

I) a sample position fluidly connecting the detection flow channel and the inlet of the sample channel and

II) a waste position fluidly connecting the detection flow channel and the waste channel.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein light is provided to the detection flow channel from the spectrophotometric source via a first fiber optic cable and wherein light from the detection flow channel is provided to the spectrophotometric detector via a second fiber optic cable.

27. The method of claim 20 , wherein the spectrophotometric source provides UV light to the detection flow channel.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the spectrophotometric detector detects UV light from the detection flow channel.

29. The method of claim 20 , wherein the controller actuates the first microfluidic valve when

A) the first signal occurs,

B) the second signal occurs, and

C) the spectrophotometric signal corresponds to the compound.

30. The method of claim 20 , further comprising evaporating solvent from the collected sample.

31. The method of claim 20 , wherein the volume of the detection flow channel is from approximately 1 to approximately 10 microliters.

32. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detection flow channel is a serpentine channel.

33. The system of claim 32 , wherein a flow cell is a part of the serpentine channel.

34. The system of claim 32 , wherein length of the serpentine channel is varied to tune the sensitivity of the radiometric detector.

35. The system of claim 33 , wherein length of the flow cell is varied to tune the spectrophotometric sensitivity.

36. The system of claim 1 , wherein the high pressure liquid chromatography column is a preparative column.

37. The system of claim 1 , wherein the high pressure liquid chromatography column is an analytical column.

38. The system of claim 1 , wherein additional radiometric noise is removed from the analysis when any radiation signal not simultaneously received by both radiometric detectors is excluded from processing.

39. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is automated.

40. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is self-contained.

41. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system features an automated in-line purification and isolation of the radiolabeled compound.

42. The system of claim 41 , wherein the system further includes microfluidic radio-synthesis device.