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Improved titanium-44 purification process for establishing a high apparent molar activity titanium-44/scandium-44
S Huclier-Markai1, D G Medvedev2, C S Cutler2
1SUBATECH, UMR 6457, Nantes Université / IMT Atlantique / CNRS-IN2P3, 4 rue Alfred Kastler La Chantrerie, BP 20722, 44307 Nantes, France; ARRONAX, 1 Rue Aronnax - CS 10112, 44817 Saint-Herblain Cedex, France; Brookhaven National Laboratory, Isotope Research and Production Department, Upton, NY 11973, USA.
Improved methods for producing scandium-44 (44Sc) via titanium-44 (44Ti) generators enhance availability. This study details a more efficient radiochemical separation and generator setup, achieving high apparent molar activity for 44Sc radiopharmaceuticals.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiochemistry
- Medical Isotope Production
Background:
- Scandium-44 (44Sc) radiopharmaceuticals show promise but face availability challenges.
- Existing 44Ti/44Sc generators have limitations, particularly in separating 44Ti from target material.
- Efficient separation of 44Ti is crucial for developing practical 44Sc-based medical imaging agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To improve the radiochemical separation of 44Ti from scandium target material.
- To establish a small-scale 44Ti/44Sc generator with high apparent molar activity.
- To evaluate the generator's performance in radiolabeling applications.
Main Methods:
- Enhanced separation of 44Ti from scandium using fluoride precipitation.
- Two generator setups: one with extraction chromatography (DGA resin) and another direct loading onto Zr resin.
- Radiolabeling evaluation using DOTA as a chelator for 44Sc.
Main Results:
- Successful improved radiochemical separation of 44Ti via fluoride precipitation.
- Development of a small-scale 44Ti/44Sc generator (370 kBq).
- Achieved an apparent molar activity of 2 MBq/nmol for 44Sc radiolabeling with DOTA.
Conclusions:
- The improved separation and generator setup enhance the feasibility of daily 44Sc production.
- The obtained apparent molar activity is comparable to existing methods, supporting clinical applications.
- This work contributes to increasing the availability of 44Sc for nuclear medicine.
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