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Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh
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A Solid-State Support for Separating Astatine-211 from Bismuth
David H Woen1, Cecilia Eiroa-Lledo1, Andrew C Akin1
1Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States.
Inorganic Chemistry
|April 18, 2020
Summary
A new method simplifies producing astatine-211 (211At) for targeted alpha therapy. This advance in 211At purification and supply could accelerate its use in treating diseases.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear chemistry
- Radiopharmaceutical science
- Medical physics
Background:
- Astatine-211 (211At) is a promising alpha-emitter for targeted alpha therapy but faces challenges due to limited supply and underdeveloped chemistry.
- Current limitations include insufficient understanding of astatine chemistry, and needs in 211At chelation, targeting, and in vivo behavior characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient extraction chromatographic method for purifying 211At.
- To improve the accessibility and processing of 211At for research and therapeutic applications.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a commercially available resin (Pre-Filter) for extraction chromatography.
- Developed a rapid (<1.5 h) isolation process for 211At from irradiated bismuth targets.
Main Results:
- Achieved high bismuth decontamination factors (≥876,000).
- Obtained 211At in reasonable yields (68-55%).
- Produced 211At in a form suitable for subsequent in vivo studies.
Conclusions:
- The developed method significantly simplifies 211At production and purification.
- This advancement has the potential to address 211At supply issues and facilitate further research in targeted alpha therapy.
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