Precision in cancer therapy, Eckert & Ziegler’s SentiLoop I empowers PET imaging labs

Reviewed: ad hoc news B2B & Pro desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-20, 10:12. Details in the imprint.

With the SentiLoop I from Eckert & Ziegler, a compact steel box on the hotlab bench suddenly becomes the heart of a PET center, quietly turning germanium-gallium generators and kits into ready-to-inject gallium-68 tracers.

What SentiLoop I actually does

The SentiLoop I is a semi-automated synthesis module designed for the preparation of gallium-68 radiopharmaceuticals from generator eluate and dedicated cold kits in a GMP-compliant hotlab environment.

It sits inside a shielded fume hood or mini cell and guides the user via a simple touchscreen through elution, labelling, purification and final filtration so that the finished dose can go straight to quality control and then to the patient.

Why gallium-68 matters for PET centers

Gallium-68 has become a workhorse isotope for PET in oncology and neuroendocrine tumor imaging, especially with 68Ga-labelled PSMA and somatostatin analogues for prostate and NET diagnostics.

Because 68Ga is sourced from generators rather than a cyclotron, smaller hospitals and regional radiopharmacies can offer high-end PET imaging without investing in heavy infrastructure, provided they have a synthesis solution like SentiLoop I to standardize production.

Workflow, feel, and daily routine

In practice, the SentiLoop I turns what used to be a maze of tubing and manual valves into a guided, script-based run that an experienced radiopharmacist can start with a few screen taps while keeping both hands free for aseptic handling.

The cassette is pre-assembled and single-use, which keeps the hardware tidy and reduces cross-contamination risk, but also means labs must budget for regular disposables with every synthesis batch.

Strengths in a crowded isotope market

A key strength is that SentiLoop I comes from a company that also supplies gallium-68 generators and various cold kits, so labs can source much of the value chain from one vendor, easing validation and service discussions.

Eckert & Ziegler emphasizes compliance with European GMP requirements and supports documentation for authorities, which matters when regulators scrutinize each PET tracer from synthesis log to batch release.

Where limitations show up

SentiLoop I is clearly optimized for 68Ga-kit chemistry and not the universal, multi-isotope workhorse that some larger modular synthesizers aim to be, which might limit flexibility in research-heavy sites.

For centers that plan to switch fast between different tracers and isotopes or that want extensive custom protocols, a more open, high-end module can still be attractive despite higher complexity and cost.

Market context and the stock angle

In nuclear medicine, SentiLoop I sits alongside Eckert & Ziegler’s generators, sealed sources and therapy isotopes as part of a system offering aimed at hospitals, PET centers and commercial radiopharmacies rather than consumers.

Shares of Eckert & Ziegler (DE0005659700) trade on Xetra in euros as a specialized play on radiopharmaceutical equipment and isotopes.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.