Robust high-yield ~1 TBq production of cyclotron based sodium [99mTc]pertechnetate

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2018.02.003Get rights and content

Abstract

This paper presents the irradiation and processing of high-current 100Mo targets at the University of Alberta (UofA) in a GMP compliant setting. For purpose of comparison with a second production facility, additional studies at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS) are also described.

Introduction

More than 70% of today's diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are based on 99mTc, however the conventional supply chain for obtaining 99mTc is fragile. The aim of this work was to demonstrate reliable high yield production and processing of 99mTc with medium-energy, high-current, cyclotrons.

Methods

We used two cyclotrons (TR-24, Advanced Cyclotron Systems, Inc) for irradiations with 22 MeV or 24 MeV incident energy and 400 μA current up to a maximum of 6 h. The irradiated 100Mo was dissolved using peroxide, basified using ammonium carbonate, and purified using a PEG-based solid phase extraction technique.

Results

High-yield productions with 22 MeV (400 μA, 6 h) yielded an average isolated [99mTc]TcO4 yield of 878 GBq ± 99 GBq (23.7 Ci ± 2.7 Ci) decay corrected to EOB, n = 8 (isolated saturation yield: 4.36 ± 0.49 GBq/μA). Irradiations with 24 MeV (400 μA, 6 h) resulted in an average isolated [99mTc]TcO4 yield of 993 GBq ± 100 GBq (26.8 Ci ± 2.7 Ci) decay corrected to EOB, n = 7 (isolated saturation yield: 4.97 ± 0.50 GBq/μA). These yields corresponds to 600–700 GBq (16–19 Ci) of [99mTc]TcO4 at release (i.e. 3 hour post-EOB). For all tested batches, the QC results were within the recently published specifications in the European Pharmacopoeia.

Conclusion

Reliable near-TBq production yields for 99mTc can be obtained using medium-energy cyclotrons.

Advances in knowledge and implications for patient care

This work presents evidence that medium-energy high-current cyclotrons can provide high yields of [99mTc]TcO4 with radionuclidic impurities levels within the specifications of the existing European Pharmacopoeia monograph, indicating that this technology can have a share in the future 99mTc supply market.

Keywords

[99mTc]pertechnetate
Cyclotron
GMP
High yield
High-current targets
Solid target

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1

Current affiliation: CHU de Québec − Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.

2

Current affiliation: Cyclotrons and TRACERcenter, GE Healthcare, GEMS PET Systems AB, Sweden.

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