Radioisotopes in nuclear medicine industry

The field of radiopharmaceuticals is growing rapidly leading to the need for innovative and optimised production routes of these radioisotopes, having highest degree of purity. The radioisotopes are usually produced either in nuclear reactors or small in built cyclotrons in a nuclear medicine facility. The production routes thus need to be simulated with reliable accuracy and the produced isotope be verified for desired use. In the present work we have simulated the excitation functions for production of some important organic radioisotopes such as C-13, N-15, O-17 and P-18 which are primarily used for nuclear medicines. The calculations are performed using the nuclear model code EMPIRE-3.2 and TALYS and the results are compared with the available experimental reported values in EXFOR library. The predictability for optimised production routes of radioisotopes of these codes is thus verified by the present calculations. (author)