Cyclotron-based production of innovative medical radionuclides at the INFN-LNL: state of the art and perspective

Abstract

The production of medical radionuclides is one of the research activities carried out in the framework of the SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) project under the completion stage at the Legnaro National Laboratories of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN-LNL). The heart of SPES is the 70-MeV proton cyclotron having a dual-beam extraction, installed and commissioned in a new building equipped with ancillary laboratories currently under construction. The SPES main goal is the realization of an advanced ISOL (Isotope Separation On-Line) facility to produce re-accelerated exotic ion beams for fundamental nuclear physics studies. The cyclotron double-beam extraction system allows to simultaneously carry out applied research, such as radionuclides production for medicine (SPES-$$\gamma$$ γ ). This paper summarizes the results obtained with the interdisciplinary projects LARAMED (LAboratory of RAdionuclides for MEDicine) and ISOLPHARM (ISOL technique for radioPHARMaceuticals). The first one, based upon the direct activation method, is focused on the production of the radionuclides under the spotlight of the international community (e.g., $$^{99m}$$ 99 m Tc, $$^{67}$$ 67 Cu, $$^{52/51}$$ 52 / 51 Mn, $$^{47}$$ 47 Sc and Tb isotopes), from the nuclear cross-section measurements up to the preclinical studies. The other one exploits the ISOL technique for the development and production of radioisotopes with high-specific activity, such as $$^{111}$$ 111 Ag, going beyond the state of the art in the field. The most recent SPES-$$\gamma$$ γ research activities and future perspective are here described, characterized by a consolidated network of collaborations with national and international institutions.