Fast and cost-effective cyclotron production of 61Cu using a natZn liquid target: an opportunity for radiopharmaceutical production and R&D

Dalton Trans. 2017 Oct 31;46(42):14556-14560. doi: 10.1039/c7dt01836c.

Abstract

Following our previous work on the production of radiometals, such as 64Cu and 68Ga, through the irradiation of liquid targets using a medical cyclotron, we describe in this paper a technique to produce 61Cu through the irradiation of natural zinc using a liquid target. The proposed method is very cost-effective, as it avoids the use of expensive enriched material, and is fast, as a purified solution of 61CuCl2 is obtained in less than 30 min after the end of beam. Considering its moderate half-life of 3.33 h and favourable decay properties as a positron emitter, 61Cu is a very attractive nuclide for the labelling of PET tracers for pre-clinical and clinical use with PET as well as to support the intense R&D programmes being carried out worldwide by taking advantage of the rich and versatile chemistry of copper.

MeSH terms

  • Copper Radioisotopes / chemistry*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis*
  • Cyclotrons*
  • Photons
  • Radiochemistry / economics*
  • Radiochemistry / instrumentation*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemistry
  • Research*
  • Time Factors
  • Zinc / chemistry*

Substances

  • Copper Radioisotopes
  • Copper-61
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Zinc