Separation of nuclear isomers for cancer therapeutic radionuclides based on nuclear decay after-effects

Journal Article (2017)
Author(s)

Rupali Bhardwaj (TU Delft - Applied Sciences)

Astrid van der Meer (TU Delft - Applied Sciences)

Satyen Das (TU Delft - Applied Sciences)

M de Bruin (TU Delft - Applied Sciences)

Jorge Gascon (TU Delft - Applied Sciences)

Bert Wolterbeek (TU Delft - Applied Sciences)

Antonia Denkova (TU Delft - Applied Sciences)

Pablo Serra Crespo (TU Delft - Applied Sciences)

Research Group
RST/Applied Radiation & Isotopes
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep44242 Final published version
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Publication Year
2017
Language
English
Research Group
RST/Applied Radiation & Isotopes
Volume number
7
Article number
44242
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291
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Abstract

177Lu has sprung as a promising radionuclide for targeted therapy. The low soft tissue penetration of its β− emission results in very efficient energy deposition in small-size tumours. Because of this, 177Lu is used in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours and is also clinically approved for prostate cancer therapy. In this work, we report a separation method that achieves the challenging separation of the physically and chemically identical nuclear isomers, 177mLu and 177Lu. The separation method combines the nuclear after-effects of the nuclear decay, the use of a very stable chemical complex and a chromatographic separation. Based on this separation concept, a new type of radionuclide generator has been devised, in which the parent and the daughter radionuclides are the same elements. The 177mLu/177Lu radionuclide generator provides a new production route for the therapeutic radionuclide 177Lu and can bring significant growth in the research and development of 177Lu based pharmaceuticals.