A reverse 230U/226Th radionuclide generator for targeted alpha therapy applications

• Published in: Nuclear medicine and biology 2020-11, Vol.90-91, p.69-73
• Main Authors: Mastren, Tara, Akin, Andrew, Copping, Roy, Brugh, Mark, Wilbur, D. Scott, Birnbaum, Eva R., Nortier, Francois M., John, Kevin D., Fassbender, Michael E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 226-Th; 226Th; 230-U/226-Th radionuclide generator; 230U/226Th radionuclide generator; Biomedical materials; Citric acid; Column chromatography; Contaminants; Half-life; Purity; Radioisotopes; RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; Targeted alpha therapy; Targeted alpha therpy; Thorium
• ISSN: 0969-8051; 1872-9614; 1872-9614
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2020.09.006

Thorium-226 (half-life 30.6 m) is a radionuclide of interest for use in targeted alpha therapy applications. Due to its short half-life, 226Th must be provided through a radionuclide generator system from its parent 230U (20.8 d). Furthermore, as the half-life of 226Th is very short, it should be provided in a form that is directly amenable to use in biomedical applications. A reverse radionuclide generator system was developed employing a DGA extraction chromatography column. A 230U/226Th parent/daughter solution in equilibrium is added to a DGA column in >6 M HCl. The parent 230U is eluted first in 0.1 M HNO3 followed by elution of 226Th in 0.1 M citrate buffer pH 5. Thorium-226 was recovered from the radionuclide generator column with >96% yield. Greater than 99.5% of the 230U parent was isolated for reuse in the generator. Long term evaluation over six weeks demonstrated consistent supply of 226Th with greater than 99.5% radionuclidic purity. The only contaminant found in the final product was 230U (