Accelerator-based Alternatives to Non-HEU production of Mo-99/Tc-99m

Closed for proposals

Project Type

Coordinated Research Project

Project Code

F22062

CRP

1862

Approved Date

20 September 2011

Status

Closed

Start Date

14 December 2011

Expected End Date

13 December 2015

Completed Date

23 March 2016

Description

Owing to the shortage of 99Mo caused by the unexpected prolonged shutdown of the Chalk River and Petten reactors in 2007, the need to explore alternative methods of producing technetium radioisotopes, which would allow continued use of all existing radiopharmaceuticals designed for 99mTc in nuclear medicine in case of another shortage, has gained significant interest. There are several potential methods for the production of Tc-99m from accelerators. These have been explored in a recent publication “The Supply of Medical Radioisotopes: Review of Potential Molybdenum-99/Technetim-99m Production Technologies” produced by the Nuclear Energy Agency of OECD.A large number of the Member States now have or are planning to have cyclotrons for the production of radioisotopes and several of them have embarked on research programs to investigate the use of accelerators for the production of Mo-99 or Tc-99m directly. In continuing with this approach, the present CRP seeks to enhance the Member States capabilities for the production of Tc-99m using accelerators. The focus of this CRP is the development of accelerator based alternatives to the conventional Molybdenum-99 (99Mo)/Technetium-99m (99mTc) generator.  This may include, but is not limited to, building a high-efficiency target for production of 99mTc, implementing automated methods to extract and purify 99mTc, assessing the suitability of the technetium radioisotope for eventual human use, performing dosimetry calculations to estimate radiation dose to the patient from potential radionuclidic impurities, and finally comparing the image quality of standard 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals prepared using cyclotron-produced pertechnetate with commercial generator produced 99mTc for imaging assays in animals.

Objectives

The overall objective of this CRP is the development of procedures on accelerator based production of Molybdenum-99/Technetium-99m with emphasis on development and optimization of production methods of Tc-99m via the (p,2n) reaction. 

Specific objectives

To determine impact of the radiation dose on the shelf life of Tc-99m .

To determine labelling efficiency and image quality of Tc-radiopharmaceuticals using cyclotron-produced Tc-99m.

To determine Tc-99m production profiles at various beam energies and intervals.

To develop automated Mo/Tc separation system and chemical impurity profile.

To develop methodologies for recycling of Mo-100 and assessment of the effects of isotopic composition.

To investigate manufacturing of robust Mo-100 accelerator target.

Impact

-The CRP has opened a new window for the application of cyclotron in minimizing the challenge risk of the Tc-99m/Mo-99 crisis started in 2010 and also a new way of using possible resources in order to reduce the use of HEU in the MSs.
-Also initial positive human studies in 2 member states has led to real application in the nuclear medicine
-The initiation of the legal approval of the tracer is also important

Relevance

The results of the CRP are very relevant to ongoing technology transfer activities in support of technical cooperation projects in MS. The technical information generated by this CRP contributed to:

Improving Tc-99m production technology
The production of Tc-99m without use of non HEU methods
effective transfer of technology
effective capacity building

CRP Publications

Type

proceedings

Year

2014

Description

Chattopadhyay S., Das S. S., Barua L., et al., An automated computer controlled module for preparation of sodium [99mTc] pertechnetate using (n,?) 99Mo-molybdate solution: TCM- AUTODOWNA generator. Proceedings in 46th Annual Conference of Indian Soc. of Nuclear Medicine (SNMICON-2014) during 11th Dec-14th Dec. 201, SINP, Kolkata, Page No. 26-27.

Country/Organization

India

Type

research paper

Year

2014

Description

G. PUPILLO, J. ESPOSITO, M. GAMBACCINI, F. HADDAD, N. MICHEL, Experimental cross section evaluation for innovative Mo-99 production via the (alpha,n) reaction on Zr-96 target., Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry (2014) DOI: 10.1007/s10967-014-3321-9

Country/Organization

Italy

Type

research paper

Year

2014

Description

H. SKLIAROVA, O. AZZOLINI, O. CHERENKOVA-DOUSSET, R.R. JOHNSON, V. PALMIERI, Niobium-based sputtered thin films for corrosion protection of proton-irradiated liquid water targets for [18F] production, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 47 (2014) 045306

Country/Organization

Italy

Type

abstract

Year

2013

Description

J. ESPOSITO, G. VECCHI, G. PUPILLO, A. TAIBI, L. UCCELLI, A. BOSCHI, M. GAMBACCINI, Evaluation of 99Mo and 99mTc productions based on a high-performance cyclotron, Science and Technology of Nuclear Installation (2013) 972381

Country/Organization

Italy

Type

research paper

Year

2015

Description

G. PUPILLO, J. ESPOSITO, M. GAMBACCINI, F. HADDAD, N. MICHEL, Accelerator-based production of 99Mo: A comparison between the 100Mo(p,x) and 96Zr(a,n) reactions, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry (2015) DOI 10.1007/s10967-015-4091-8

Country/Organization

Italy

Type

research paper

Year

2014

Description

Chattopadhyay S., Barua L., Saha Das S., et al., Pharmaceutical grade sodium [99mTc] pertechnetate from low specific activity 99Mo using an automated 99Mo/99mTc-TCM-autosolex generator, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 302(2014) 781.

Country/Organization

India

Type

research paper

Year

2014

Description

S. MANENTI, U. HOLZWART, M. LORIGGIOLA, L. GINI, J. ESPOSITO, F. GROPPI, F. SIMONELLI, The excitation functions of Mo-100(p,x)Mo-99 and Mo-100(p,2n)Tc-99m, Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 94 (2014) 344.

Country/Organization

Italy

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