A Step-by-Step Guide for the Novel Radiometal Production for Medical Applications: Case Studies with ⁶⁸Ga, ⁴⁴Sc, ¹⁷⁷Lu and ¹⁶¹Tb

Abstract

The production of novel radionuclides is the first step towards the development of new effective radiopharmaceuticals, and the quality thereof directly affects the preclinical and clinical phases. In this review, novel radiometal production for medical applications is briefly elucidated. The production status of the imaging nuclide 44Sc and the therapeutic β--emitter nuclide 161Tb are compared to their more established counterparts, 68Ga and 177Lu according to their targetry, irradiation process, radiochemistry, and quality control aspects. The detailed discussion of these significant issues will help towards the future introduction of these promising radionuclides into drug manufacture for clinical application under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

Keywords

• cyclotron
• reactor
• novel radionuclides
• radiopharmaceuticals
• imaging
• therapy
• theranostics
• scandium-44
• terbium-161
• gallium-68
• lutetium-177
• good manufacturing practice