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Delve into the world of radioisotope production, from the basics of tracer principles to specific activity concepts. Explore various production methods like gas and liquid targets to optimize yields and specific activities.
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Production of radioisotopes: where it all begins! Thomas J. Ruth TRIUMF Vancouver, Canada
Radiochemical tracers Probe biochemical systems by labeling compounds with known biological behavior.
Tracer Principle • Tracer behaves in a similar way to the components of the system to be probed. • Tracer does not alter the system in any measurable fashion. • Tracer concentration can be measured.
Specific Activity • Radioactivity per mass – MBq/mmole • To maintain tracer priniciple must have the highest SA possible. • 370 MBq @ 370 GBq /mmole = 1014 molecules
Sources of radioisotopes: Naturally occurring – 235U Fission – 99Mo 99mTc Neutron capture – 186Re Charged particle – 123I
Radioisotope production is truly Alchemy where you change one element into another!
Choice of method The best possibility for achieving high SA is through charged particle reactions.
Notation 185Re + n = 186Re + g 185Re(n,g)186Re 18O + p = 18F + n 18O(p,n)18F
R = Ins (1 – e-lt) Where R – production rate I – beam flux s – cross section (1 – e-lt) – saturation factor
Parameters • target construction • target constituents • irradiation conditions • energy • current • temperature • pressure • dose • optimize yield and specific activity
[11C]CO2 • small volume aluminum targets • O2 may or may not be added • H. J. Ache, A.P. Wolf, Radiochim. Acta Vol 6, p32, 1966 • primary products are CN and CO at low dose (<0.1 eV/molecule) • higher doses radiolytically oxidize these to CO2 • typical dose 150 eV/molecule
[11C]CH4 • initial work to produce HCN in target required flow-thru quartz body due to dose dependence and CN reactivity. • large aluminum or small nickel targets reported to work well. • D.R. Christman et al. Int. J. App. Rad. Isot., Vol. 26, p435, 1975. • G.-J. Meyer et al. Radiochimica Acta, Vol. 50, p43, 1990.
[11C]CH4 • Reaction Pathway protons N2 + H2 11C + N2 + H2 11CN 11CN + H2 HCN HCN CH4 + NH3 radiolysis
[11C]CH4 at TRIUMF • initial results with cylindrical target, 5% H2 very poor (30% theoretical) • conical target, 10% H2 (50% theoretical) • NH3 in equilibrium & only dependent on amount of H2 • residual fields show 11C produced but not extracted in gas phase • Recently have starting using Nb target chamber with excellent yields
[18F]HF • first water target was Kilbourn et al. Int. J. Appl. Rad. Isot. Vol. 35, p599, 1984. • target materials, titanium, silver, nickel, gold, plated • A.D. Roberts et al. NIM B99, p797, 1995. • C. E. Gonzalez Lepara & B. Dembowski, Appl. Rad. Isot. Vol. 48, p613, 1997.
[18F]F2 • An 18O2 Target for the Production of [18F]F2 R. J. Nickles, M.E. Daube, and T.J. Ruth, Int. J. Appl. Radiat. Isot. Vol. 35, p117, 1984 • experience with 20Ne(d,a)18F + carrier 19F2 • subsequent irradiations > theoretical • target wall acting as a holding pool for F • NiF2 on target walls is not passive • proton-only accelerators & 3x yield
Non-reactive gases (CF4, NF3,…) Atomic flourine F Molecular flourine F2 NiF2 target surface Nickles’ 4 Compartment Model k6 k7 k2 k1 k3 k5 k4
Two-shot Method • target evacuated • O2 released to target and irradiated • O2 cryotrapped out • target evacuated with mech. pump • target loaded with 20-200umole F2 + inert gas (Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) • 18F2 released from target via isotopic exchange
[18F]F2 • several reports of single and double shot production methods implemented • reported use of aluminum target bodies in 1991 by Bida et al. • Proc. of IVth Int. Workshop on Targetry and Target Chemistry. • Development of an improved target for [18F]F2 production. A.D. Roberts, T.R. Oakes, and R.J. Nickles Applied Rad. Isot. Vol. 46, p87, 1995
[18F]F2 • advantages of aluminum: • stability • passivation • activation • machinability • cost
[18F]F2 yield vs. 19F2 conc. mmol 19F2 Electrophilic 18F from a Siemens 11MeV Proton-only Cyclotron Chirakal et al. Nucl. Med. Biol. Vol. 22, p111, 1994.
[18F]F2 yield vs. Irradiation time A.D. Roberts, T.R. Oakes, R.J. Nickles Development of an improved target for [18F]F2 production. App. Rad. Isot. Vol. 46, p87, 1995.
[18F]F2 • Proton Irradiation of [18O]O2: Production of [18F]F2 and [18F]F2 + [18F]OF2 A. Bishop, N. Satyamurthy, G. Bida, G. Hendry, M. Phelps, J.R. Barrio Nucl. Med. Biol. Vol. 23, p189, 1996 • targets of aluminum, copper, gold plated copper, nickel, cone and cylinders • single and two shot • multiple recoveries
Multiple Recoveries • A. Bishop et al., Nucl. Med. Biol. Vol. 23, p189, 1996
Choice of Production Method • the threshold energy for initiating the reaction • the energy where the maximum cross section is found • the physical properties of the target material • the physical properties of the product
Choice of Production Method -continued • the chemical properties of the target • the chemical properties of the product • the ease of separation of the product and target • and the ability of converting the product into a useful labeling form.
In Target Chemistry? For a 15 cm target at 10 atm N2 and a 10.5 MeV proton beam.. Heselius, Abo Akademi
Ep= 13.0 MeV P0= 300 psi Havar window
90% Thick Ep= 13.0 MeV P0= 300 psi Havar window
75% Thick Ep= 13.0 MeV P0= 300 psi Havar window
50% Thick Ep= 13.0 MeV P0= 300 psi 4.2 MeV Havar window
He cooling foil from TR13 Target Note heat mark
Water Cooled Grid Target Roberts & Barnhart, U. Wisc.
Accelerator Production of High Specific Activity Therapeutic Radionuclides: Production of High LET Radioisotopes at TRIUMF-ISACThomas J. RuthUBC/TRIUMF PET Program