Continuing Nuclear Data Research for Production of Accelerator-Based Novel Radionuclides for Medical Use: A Mini-Review

Abstract

Nuclear data are important for production and medical application of a radionuclide. This brief review concentrates on nuclear reaction cross-section data. The availability of standardized nuclear data for accelerator-based production of medical radionuclides is outlined. Some new directions in radionuclide applications, for example, theranostic approach, bimodal imaging, and radionuclide targeted therapy, are considered and the status of relevant nuclear data is discussed. The current trends in nuclear data research using accelerators are elaborated. The increasing significance of intermediate energy accelerators in production of therapeutic radionuclides is emphasized.

A feasibility study of the therapeutic application of a mixture of 67/64Cu radioisotopes produced by cyclotrons with proton irradiation

“…The production of 67 Cu is instead more challenging and still under investigation, 20 as emerged from the dedicated Coordinated Research Project (CRP) promoted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 21 It emerges from recent publications on 67 Cu production 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 that the use of highly enriched target materials results in a pure final product at the end of irradiation with the 68 Zn( γ , p ) 67 Cu, 70 Zn( p , α ) 67 Cu, and 70 Zn( d , x ) 67 Cu reactions at low energy ( E p < 35 MeV, E d < 27 MeV). All nuclear reactions concerned have low cross‐section values (below 30 mb), leading to a rather low 67 Cu yield.…”

67Cu Production Capabilities: A Mini Review

“…15 mb), this production route provides quite a low yield, i.e., 5.76 MBq/µAh for the 30–10 MeV energy range (corresponding to a 1.84 mm thick target). On the other hand, when using 70 Zn targets and higher proton energies, it is possible to reach a higher 67 Cu yield, though with the coproduction of 64 Cu [ 16 , 17 ].…”

Cyclotrons Operated for Nuclear Medicine and Radiopharmacy in the German Speaking D-A-CH Countries: An Update on Current Status and Trends

“…Many of the new radiotracers are being developed academically and tested at the interface between nuclear medicine and radiopharmacy and the linked medical disciplines benefiting from radiopharmaceutical applications. To be able to produce widely used radiotracers for everyday clinical care, in addition to e.g., specialized knowledge in the GMP-production of radiopharmaceuticals (10), regional access to a (medical) cyclotron is required in view of the short half-lives of clinically relevant radionuclides (11)(12)(13). Therefore, the demand for cyclotrons, which are a prerequisite for radionuclide production, has increased worldwide due to widespread application of PET examinations.…”

“…The result is radioactive atoms that can be separated from the target material and radiochemically processed in synthesis modules (radiosynthesizers) for the automated production of tracers, which are formulated mainly into saline PET radiopharmaceutical injection solutions to image patients by intravenous injection of the radiopharmaceutical (15,16). Common short-lived radionuclides used for PET imaging include e.g., 18 F, 68 Ga, 11 C, 13 N, 15 O, 44 Sc, 64 Cu, 89 Zr, 86 Y and 124 I (9,(17)(18)(19)(20)(21).…”