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Solvent extraction of Ac-225 in nano-layer coated, solvent resistant PDMS microfluidic chips
Svenja Trapp1, Albert Santoso2, Yassine Hounat2
1Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Delft University of Technology, 2629 JB, Delft, the Netherlands.
Scientific Reports
|December 2, 2024
Summary
Microfluidic chips enable efficient and automated solvent extraction for medical radionuclides. This technology achieves high separation efficiency for Ac-225 from radium, paving the way for faster radiopharmaceutical production.
Area of Science:
- Radiochemistry
- Microfluidics
- Nuclear Medicine
Background:
- Solvent extraction is crucial for radiopharmaceutical production.
- Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chips offer a platform for continuous and automated separation.
- Metal-oxide nano-layer coatings enhance chip durability in organic solvents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the application of PDMS microfluidic chips for medical radionuclide separation.
- To optimize solvent extraction parameters for efficient radionuclide recovery.
- To showcase the potential for automation in radiopharmaceutical production.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of metal-oxide nano-layer coated PDMS microfluidic chips.
- Demonstration of parallel flow with aqueous and organic solutions relevant to radionuclide extraction.
- Case study involving the separation of Actinium-225 (Ac-225) from Radium using di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA).
Main Results:
- Achieved a high extraction efficiency of 97.1% ± 1.5% for Ac-225 from radium.
- Demonstrated near-perfect phase separation between aqueous and organic solutions.
- Obtained efficient separation within a short contact time of 1.8 seconds.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidic chip-based solvent extraction is a viable and efficient method for medical radionuclide separation.
- This technology enables automation of solvent extraction processes.
- The method supports faster target recycling and improved radiopharmaceutical production workflows.
