Chitosan-TiO₂ composite: A potential ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga generator column material.

Area of Science:

• Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Routine use of 68Ge-68Ga generators in radiopharmaceuticals requires durable and ready-to-use column materials.
• Development of efficient and stable materials is crucial for reliable 68Ga production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate chitosan-TiO2 based microsphere (C-TOM) composite as a potential column material for 68Ge/68Ga generators.
• To assess the performance of C-TOM in terms of 68Ge uptake and 68Ga elution characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Batch uptake studies were conducted to determine distribution coefficients for 68Ge and 68Ga across various HCl concentrations.
• Physical and chemical stability of C-TOM was tested in 0.01 mol.L-1 HCl over approximately 2 months.
• Elution profiles and 68Ge breakthrough were monitored to evaluate generator performance.

Main Results:

• C-TOM exhibited higher distribution coefficients for 68Ge compared to 68Ga in the tested HCl concentration range.
• The material demonstrated excellent stability in 0.01 mol.L-1 HCl, maintaining >95% 68Ga elution.
• Negligible 68Ge breakthrough (2 × 10-4%) was observed over the evaluation period.

Conclusions:

• Chitosan-TiO2 based microsphere (C-TOM) composite shows significant potential as a novel solid-phase extractant for 68Ge/68Ga generator systems.
• High radionuclidic purity (≥99.99%) 68Ga can be routinely eluted in a small volume using 0.01 mol.L-1 HCl.
• C-TOM offers a durable and efficient solution for radiopharmaceutical applications.