Research and Development for Cyclotron Production of 225Ac from 226Ra—The Challenges in a Country Lacking Natural Resources for Medical Applications

Processes

Kotaro Nagatsu¹  Ming-Rong Zhang¹  Tatsuya Higashi²  Atsushi B Tsuji² 

[1] Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute for Quantum Medical Science (iQMS), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1, Anagawa, Inage, Chiba-City 263-8555, Chiba, Japan;Department of Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Institute for Quantum Medical Science (iQMS), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1, Anagawa, Inage, Chiba-City 263-8555, Chiba, Japan;

关键词: targeted alpha therapy;    theranostics;    ²²⁵Ac;    ²²⁶Ra;    ²¹¹At;   

DOI  :  10.3390/pr10061215

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The high therapeutic effect of targeted radioisotope/radionuclide therapy (TRT) using α-emitters, especially ²²⁵Ac, is attracting attention worldwide. However, the only ²²⁵Ac production method that has been put into practical use is extraction from a ²²⁹Th generator derived from the nuclear fuel ²³³U, and it is unlikely that this method alone is able to meet future global medical demand. Development towards new ²²⁵Ac production methods is in progress. These new ²²⁵Ac production methods require the irradiation of ²³²Th or ²²⁶Ra using an accelerator or a nuclear reactor. Global competition has already begun in the race to secure a reliable supply of ²³²Th and ²²⁶Ra, as well as ²²⁹Th for the conventional production method. Japan is a “resource-poor country” that depends on foreign countries for most of its needs. As such, it is difficult for Japan to secure raw materials such as ²³²Th and ²²⁶Ra for medical application. In this paper, we look back on our research at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) in the fields of ²²⁵Ac production and ²²⁵Ac-labeled pharmaceutical development. We present the history and details of our research from 2011, as well as the development of a collaboration between QST and Nihon Medi-Physics that focuses on research into ²²⁵Ac production via ²²⁶Ra(p,2n)²²⁵Ac reaction using an accelerator. Furthermore, we review the valuable discussion at the 2018 Joint IAEA-JRC Workshop—“Supply of Actinium-225”, an international conference that we participated in. Overall, the statuses of external ²²⁵Ac supply, domestic production, and distribution are discussed, as are the latest developments in ²²⁵Ac production methods, ²²⁵Ac pharmaceuticals, and future prospects for the domestic production of ²²⁵Ac in Japan, a country lacking natural resources for medical applications.

【 授权许可】

Unknown