High Activity Cyclotron Produced Tc-99m for Medical Applications

Multiple methods and experiences have been carried out to perform a suitable target for high current proton beam for ^99mTc production. Different electroplating bathes have been used for target support electroplating. The quality of the different electroplated Mo layer on copper substrate was not suitable for high current proton beam and high activity Tc-99m production. The thickness obtained by different electroplating procedure do not exceed 2-3 micrometer having a total surface of 10 cm². After these non-satisfied electroplating experiences, testes on pressed then sintered of molybdenum oxide method in order to prepare a molybdenum target had been achieved. An experiment on molybdenum oxide sintering has been performed, but again with no success due to the appearance of crystals on the surface of the prepared pellets. Another method for the production of ^99mTc based on liquid target has been explored. A related method for the separation of ^99mTc and recovery of enriched molybdenum has been tested. At the final period of the project a new production method of ^99mTc was tested using a high current solid target. This method can meet cost-effective production and quality of the produced ^99mTc criteria. The separation and purification setup was elaborated to produce high quantity and high specific activity of ^99mTcO4⁻ suitable for labeling different ligands in order to be used in nuclear medicine imaging. A semi-automated target dissolution and separation system has been developed and achieved for ^99mTcO4⁻ production. The separation chemistry is based on a chromatographic column system. Chemical and radiochemical purity was found to be in accordance with the USP and EP specifications. 99% of radioisotopes in the final product were attributed to the presence of ^99mTc. The labeling efficiency results of the produced Na^99mTcO₄ show that less than 1% of ^99mTc activity was not labeled with MDP kit. Biodistribution of labeled kits results and their application for in vivo SPECT images demonstrate that the quality of the produced ^99mTc-pertechnetate is identical to that produced from ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators. (author)