Browsing by Author "Gelbart, W."
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- 45Ti - Titanium: from cyclotron production to potential applications evaluationPublication . Costa, Pedro; Metello, Luís F.; Cunha, Lídia; Lass, Piotr; Currie, Geoff; Johnson, Richard R.; Gelbart, W.; Obermair, J.; Artner, Christoph; Alves, Francisco; Naia, M. DuarteIntroduction: Thousands of radioisotopes are known and virtually all may be artificially produced, however clinical applications of PET imaging are mainly based on 18F, 11C, 13N and 68Ga. This trend could change in the near future, since several groups worldwide are busy developing very promising new entities aiming to contribute for spreading the use and efficacy of clinical diagnostic using Nuclear Medicine imaging techniques. Our group is developing 45Ti-Titanium, assuming it as a potential candidate, since presenting interesting properties: physical half-life of 3.09h, together with relevant chemical properties, that enable radiolabelling with bifunctional chelates, ligands or could even be useful for studies concerning the distribution of new titanium-based chemotherapy drugs or titanium oxide nanoparticles. Considering that data characterizing excitation functions is necessary for radionuclide optimal production, this work aims to disseminate results regarding the determination of excitation function of 45Sc(p,n)45Ti reaction, studied as a potential route to produce 45Ti in low energy cyclotrons.
- Cyclotech - contribution to solve the Technetium shortage by using low energy medical cyclotronsPublication . Metello, Luís F.; Gelbart, W.; Benedict, Malcom; Cunha, Lídia; Alves, Francisco; Johnson, Richard R.This paper presents work in progress, to develop an efficient and economic way to directly produce Technetium 99metastable (99mTc) using low-energy cyclotrons. Its importance is well established and relates with the increased global trouble in delivering 99mTc to Nuclear Medicine Departments relying on this radioisotope. Since the present delivery strategy has clearly demonstrated its intrinsic limits, our group decided to follow a distinct approach that uses the broad distribution of the low energy cyclotrons and the accessibility of Molybdenum 100 (100Mo) as the Target material. This is indeed an important issue to consider, since the system here presented, named CYCLOTECH, it is not based on the use of Highly Enriched (or even Low Enriched) Uranium 235 (235U), so entirely complying with the actual international trends and directives concerning the use of this potential highly critical material. The production technique is based on the nuclear reaction 100Mo (p,2n) 99mTc whose production yields have already been documented. Until this moment two Patent requests have already been submitted (the first at the INPI, in Portugal, and the second at the USPTO, in the USA); others are being prepared for submission on a near future. The object of the CYCLOTECH system is to present 99mTc to Nuclear Medicine radiopharmacists in a routine, reliable and efficient manner that, remaining always flexible, entirely blends with established protocols. To facilitate workflow and Radiation Protection measures, it has been developed a Target Station that can be installed on most of the existing PET cyclotrons and that will tolerate up to 400 μA of beam by allowing the beam to strike the Target material at an adequately oblique angle. The Target Station permits the remote and automatic loading and discharge of the Targets from a carriage of 10 Target bodies. On other hand, several methods of Target material deposition and Target substrates are presented. The object was to create a cost effective means of depositing and intermediate the target material thickness (25 - 100μm) with a minimum of loss on a substrate that is able to easily transport the heat associated with high beam currents. Finally, the separation techniques presented are a combination of both physical and column chemistry. The object was to extract and deliver 99mTc in the identical form now in use in radiopharmacies worldwide. In addition, the Target material is recovered and can be recycled.
- Cyclotron produced 45Ti-Titanium: why & how… so WHY NOT?Publication . Costa, Pedro; Metello, Luís F.; Cunha, Lídia; Johnson, Richard R.; Mattei, Lidia; Gelbart, W.; Obermair, J.; Dietl, B.; Nauschnig, R.; Artner, Christoph; Lass, Piotr; Currie, Geoff; Carmo, Sérgio; Alves, Francisco; Naia, M. DuarteThere are many different radioisotopes well known and characterized for medical use, with almost all of them able to be artificially produced. Nevertheless, routine clinical applications of PET imaging are still based on 18F, in excess of 97% of the cases, with 11C, 13N and 68Ga sharing the few remaining situations. This trend could change in the – hopingly near – future, since several groups worldwide are busy developing very promising new processes using less conventional radionuclides, aiming to contribute for spreading the use and efficacy of clinical diagnostic using Nuclear Medicine imaging techniques, evolving more and more in the direction of personalized medicine, an worldwide growing societal request. Our group is busy studying 45Ti, interested by its many interesting properties and assuming it as a high-potential candidate: in fact 45Ti presents a physical half-life of 3.09h (50% higher than 18F) together with relevant chemical properties, that enable radiolabelling with bifunctional chelates, ligands or even to radiolabel titanium (di)oxide nanoparticles. Considering that data characterizing excitation functions are mandatory for radionuclide optimal production, the present work refers to our results regarding the 45Sc(p,n)45Ti nuclear reaction, being studied as a potential route to efficiently produce 45Ti in low energy cyclotrons.
- Direct production of 99mTc-Technetium using low energy cyclotrons and radionuclidic purity: our results so far using natMo-MolybdenumPublication . Metelo, Luís Francisco; Costa, Pedro; Cunha, L.; Jonhson, R.; Matei, L.; Gelbart, W.; Obermair, J.; Artner, C.; Lass, P.; Currie, G.; Craciun, L.; Niculae, D.; Carmo, S.; Alves, F.; Botello, M.Despite the global crisis concerning 99mTc delivering to Nuclear Medicine Departments there isn’t yet a reliable solution. The cyclotron direct production of 99mTc, using the 100Mo(p,2n)99mTc nuclear reaction is our attempt to approach the problem, aiming to become efficient, reliable and sustainable from points of view as reducing drastically the radioactive waste being produced and becoming beneficial for all the involved parts. Between several critical factors, radionuclidic purity of cyclotron-produced 99mTc is being pointed as an issue of concern.
- Experimental results on excitation functions for 45Ti direct production on low energy - medical - cyclotronsPublication . Costa, Pedro; Metello, Luís F.; Cunha, Lídia; Johnson, Richard R.; Gelbart, W.; Obermair, J.; Artner, Christoph; Carmo, Sérgio; Alves, Francisco; Naia, M. Duarte
- Should new Nuclear Reactors be considered as an option to solve Technetium shortage problem?Publication . Metello, Luís F.; Cunha, Lídia; Costa, Pedro; Vieira, Domingos; Alves, Francisco; Botelho, Maria Filomena; Gelbart, W.; Artner, Christoph; Nader, Michael; Schibli, Roger; Jensen, MikaelWorldwide, more than 80% of Nuclear Medicine procedures use a radiotracer produced through a 99Mo/99mTc generator - 99mTc – Technetium 99metastable. Most of the radiochemistry and equipments is optimized for this radioisotope characteristics already for more than 35 years, making it very difficult to replace. Worldwide production of 99Mo is based essentially with only five Nuclear Reactors that are becoming obsolete and fragile with aging, shutting down more and more frequently as they approach the end of their shelf-life. Seeking for solutions, some Governments – and the EU – plan to build new dedicated Nuclear Reactor(s). Our work defends another option.
- Using low energy medical cyclotrons to produce 99mTc - TechnetiumPublication . Metello, L. F.; Gelbart, W.; Cunha, L.; Carmo, S.; Artner, C.; Alves, F.This paper refers to work in progress, addressing the global trouble in delivering 99mTc to Nuclear Medicine Departments, Aiming to develop an efficient, safe and economical way to directly produce Technetium 99metastable (99mTc) using lowenergy - so-called “medical” - cyclotrons. The present delivery strategy has intrinsic limitations because it is not only based on old nuclear reactors, but also limits the weekly agenda workflow. Our approach is distinct, and is based on the broad distribution network of the low energy cyclotrons and the accessibility of Molybdenum 100 (100Mo) as the target material, so the system here presented, is not based on the use of Nuclear Reactors and highly enriched (or even low enriched) Uranium 235 (235U), but entirely complying with the current international trends and directives, concerning the need to reduce the use of this potential highly critical target material. The direct production technique is based on the nuclear reaction 100Mo(p,2n)99mTc whose production yields have already been widely documented. The 99mTc is produced in a routine, reliable and efficient manner that, remaining always flexible, entirely blends with established protocols.
- Using Monte Carlo to approach 45Ti direct production on low energy - medical - cyclotronsPublication . Costa, Pedro; Cunha, Lídia; Johnson, Richard R.; Gelbart, W.; Artner, Christoph; Alves, Francisco; Naia, M. Duarte; Metello, Luís F.