Radioisotope Production

Radionuclide Production
Paul Kinahan Imaging Research Laboratory Department of Radiology
Emission versus Transmission Imaging

External versus internal radiation sources
f(x,y,z) source
f(x,y,z)
Transmission
Emission
Physics of Transmission Imaging
The Electromagnetic Spectrum

longer wavelength micro radiofrequency wave IR
AM FM TV
higher energy gamma cosmic UV X-ray -ray -ray
Optical
Transmission through 10cm of tissue (water)

1.0 low resolution region (long wavelength) high resolution region
0.0
Injection of a Radiotracer
Short lived isotopes

We would like to use short-lived isotopes to minimize partient radiation dose Unlike an X-ray device. we can't turn it off Recall that radition decays with an exponentially, characterized by a 'half-life' T1/2
imaging time
A(t) = A(0)e
long T1/2 short T1/2
!t(ln(2) / T1/2 )
Radiation dose to patient (area under curve)
Naturaly-occuring isotopes are long-lived, naturally So if we want a short-lived isotope we must produce it
Making unstable isotopse Line of N=Z
Band of Stability
stable
Z N
We have to change the ratio of neutrons (N) to protons (Z) to get outside the band of stability
Nulcear bombardment
Hit nucleus of stable atoms with sub-nuclear particles: neutrons, protons, alpha particles etc.
There are two main methods of performing this bombardment

1. Inserting target in a nuclear reactor - fine for longer-lived isotopes as some time is needed for processing and shipment 2. Using a charged-particle accelerator called a 'cyclotron' - needed locally for short-lived isotopes (T1/2 ~ 1 to 100 min). We have two here at UWMC 3. We can also use longer-lived isotopes from a nuclear reactor that decay to a short-lived radioisotope in a portable 'generator'
Common Radionuclides
Raphex Question
An ideal radiopharmaceutical would have all the following except: a. Long half-life b. No particulate emissions c. Target specificity d. 150 to 250 keV photons e. Rapid biological distribution
Raphex Question and Answer

An ideal radiopharmaceutical would have all the following except: a. Long half-life b. No particulate emissions c. Target specificity d. 150 to 250 keV photons e. Rapid biological distribution a: The ideal radionuclide has a short half-life to reduce the radiation dose to the patient
Reactor Produced Isotopes

235 Most important reaction U + n ! 236U * which decays spontaneously via nuclear fission and a (hopefully) controlled chain reaction producing lots of protons, neutrons, alpha particles etc.
We can have different types of reactions to produce desired isotopes from stable target materials
1. (n,): 2. (n,p):
A Z A Z
X+n!
A+1 Z A Z "1
X* !
A+1 Z
X +"
X+n!
Y+p
Notes If the number of protons (Z) changes, then so does the element Because neutrons are added, activated materials tend to lie above the line of stability, and thus to decay by electron emission Even in high neutron fluxes, only small amounts are activated, say 1:106109 For (n,) production, which is most common, the element does not change, so it is difficult to get carrier-free product
Reactor Produced Isotopes

Some isotopes used in Nuclear Medicine
Cyclotron Production
Basically a linear accelerator rolled up into a spiral. Typically accelerate an H- ion using alternating electric fields. The magnet is used to bend the path of the charged particle. The proton then hits the target
Cyclotron Production
Notes Since we are using proton bombardment we change the element and typically lie below the line of stability. Thus decay is typically by positron emission. Cyclotrons can be located locally, thus allowing for short lived isotopes, reducing patient dose. Cylcotrons, however, are very expensive to buy and operate. Often there are distrubution networks.
Cyclotron Produced Isotopes

By far the most common is
18F
in
18F-FDG
for PET oncology
Generators
Alternative to reactors or cylotron is to use a 'mother' isotope that has a long half-life that decays to a short half-life 'daughter' that can be used for imaging. The mother isotope is produced in a nuclear reactor and then shipped in a 'generator'. As needed, the daughter isotope is 'eluted' and combined into a radiopharmaceutical Workhorse of general nuclear medicine
Generators
Alternative to reactors or cylotron is to use a 'mother' isotope that has a long half-life that decays to a short half-life 'daughter' that can be used for imaging. The mother isotope is produced in a nuclear reactor and then shipped in a 'generator'. As needed, the daughter isotope is 'eluted' and combined into a radiopharmaceutical Workhorse of general nuclear medicine
Generator Radionuclides
99mTc (daughter isotopes) generators are by far the most common The mother isotope in 99Mo, which is reactor produced. The generators typically replaced monthly
Generator Activity Levels
Raphex Question
99mTc a. b. c. d. e. generators cannot be: Produced in a cyclotron Used to dispense more than 1 Ci Shipped by air Purchased by licensed users Used for more than 67 hours
Raphex Question and Answer

99mTc a. b. c. d. e. generators cannot be: Produced in a cyclotron Used to dispense more than 1 Ci Shipped by air Purchased by licensed users Used for more than 67 hours
a. 99Mo can be produced in a reactor or from fission products, but it cannot be produced in a cyclotron (99Mo is a beta emitter, requiring the addition of neutrons, not protons).

Radioisotope Production

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Radionuclide Production

Paul Kinahan Imaging Research Laboratory Department of Radiology

Emission versus Transmission Imaging

Physics of Transmission Imaging

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

higher energy gamma cosmic UV X-ray -ray -ray

Transmission through 10cm of tissue (water)

Short lived isotopes

Radiation dose to patient (area under curve)

Making unstable isotopse Line of N=Z

There are two main methods of performing this bombardment

Raphex Question and Answer

Reactor Produced Isotopes

Reactor Produced Isotopes

Cyclotron Produced Isotopes

for PET oncology

Generator Activity Levels

Raphex Question and Answer

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