Modelling of the 177mLu/177Lu radionuclide generator

Rupali Bhardwaj; Hubert T Wolterbeek; Antonia G Denkova; Pablo Serra-Crespo

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109261

Modelling of the ^177mLu/¹⁷⁷Lu radionuclide generator

Appl Radiat Isot. 2020 Dec:166:109261. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109261. Epub 2020 Jul 10.

Authors

Rupali Bhardwaj¹, Hubert T Wolterbeek², Antonia G Denkova², Pablo Serra-Crespo³

Affiliations

¹ Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB, Delft, the Netherlands; Catalysis Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ, Delft, the Netherlands.
² Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB, Delft, the Netherlands.
³ Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB, Delft, the Netherlands. Electronic address: P.SerraCrespo@tudelft.nl.

PMID: 32961525
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109261

Abstract

In order to determine the potential of ^177mLu/¹⁷⁷Lu radionuclide generator in ¹⁷⁷Lu production it is important to establish the technical needs that can lead to a clinically acceptable ¹⁷⁷Lu product quality. In this work, a model that includes all the processes and the parameters affecting the performance of the ^177mLu/¹⁷⁷Lu radionuclide generator has been developed. The model has been based on the use of a ligand to complex ^177mLu ions, followed by the separation of the freed ¹⁷⁷Lu ions. The dissociation kinetics of the Lu-ligand complex has been found to be the most crucial aspect governing the specific activity and ^177mLu content of the produced ¹⁷⁷Lu. The dissociation rate constants lower than 1*10^-11 s^-1 would be required to lead to onsite ¹⁷⁷Lu production with specific activity close to theoretical maximum of 4.1 TBq ¹⁷⁷Lu/mg Lu and with ^177mLu content of less than 0.01%. Lastly, the calculations suggest that more than one patient dose per week can be supplied for a period of up to 7 months on starting with the ^177mLu produced using 3 g Lu₂O₃ target with 60% ¹⁷⁶Lu enrichment. The requirements of the starting ^177mLu activity production needs to be adapted depending on the required patient doses, and the technical specifications of the involved ^177mLu-¹⁷⁷Lu separation process.

Keywords: Lutetium-177 radionuclide generator radionuclide production.