Microwave method for preparing radiolabelled gallium complexes

A method of producing a radiolabelled gallium complex in a form suitable for use in PET or SPECT radiopharmaceutical imaging, said method comprising reacting a Ga3+ radioisotope in a suitable solvent with a macrocyclic bifunctional chelating agent, wherein said macrocyclic bifunctional chelating agent is linked to a targeting vector selected from the group consisting of proteins, glycoproteins, lipoproteins, polypeptides, glycopolypeptides, lipopolypeptides, peptides, glycopeptides, lipopeptides, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides or small organic molecules;

• characterised in that the reaction is carried out using microwave activation at 80 to 120 W for 20 s to 2 min.