A comprehensive evaluation of charged-particle data for production of the therapeutic radionuclide Pd

¹⁰³Pd is an important radionuclide having a half-life of 16.99 d, which is suitable for internal radiation therapy, especially used for the treatment of prostate cancer. Its production in no-carrier-added form is done via charged-particle-induced reactions and the data are available in EXFOR library. We evaluated six charged-particle-induced reactions, namely ^natAg(p,x)¹⁰³Pd, ¹⁰³Rh(p,n)¹⁰³Pd, ¹⁰³Rh(d,2n)¹⁰³Pd, ¹⁰⁰Ru(α,n)¹⁰³Pd, ¹⁰¹Ru(α,2n)¹⁰³Pd, and ¹⁰²Ru(³He,2n)¹⁰³Pd process. In the first case, analysis was done up to about 100 MeV but in other cases only up to about 25 or 40 MeV. Furthermore, an evaluation of the data for the ^natAg(p,x)¹⁰³Ag process was also done since it may serve as a typical example for the ¹⁰³Ag→¹⁰³Pd precursor system. A statistical procedure supported by nuclear model calculations using the codes STAPRE, EMPIRE 2.19, and TALYS was used to validate and fit the experimental data. The recommended sets of data derived together with confidence limits are reported. The application of those data, particularly in the calculation of integral yields, is discussed. A comparison of the investigated routes from the viewpoint of practical applicability to the production of ¹⁰³Pd is given. Presently the ¹⁰³Rh(p,n)¹⁰³Pd reaction is the method of choice.     

Cross section measurements of the Xe(p,n) reaction for production of the therapeutic radionuclide Cs

¹³¹Cs is an X-ray emitter radioisotope gaining interest in prostate brachytherapy. It is generally produced via the ¹³⁰Ba(n,γ)¹³¹Ba→¹³¹Cs process in thermal-flux reactors. Here we investigate its cyclotron production possibilities. Excitation function of the ¹³¹Xe(p,n)¹³¹Cs reaction was measured up to 35 MeV using the stacked gascell technique and high-resolution X-ray spectrometry. The experimental data were compared with results of the ALICE-IPPE and EMPIRE-II codes and curves taken from the PADF and TENDL database. The calculated integral yield was 17 MBq/μA h in the energy range E_p=20→7 MeV. Comparison of cyclotron and reactor production routes was given.     

Measurements and nuclear model calculations on proton-induced reactions on Rh up to 40 MeV: evaluation of the excitation function of the Rh(p,n)Pd reaction relevant to the production of the therapeutic radionuclide Pd

Excitation functions were measured by the stacked-foil technique for the reactions ¹⁰³Rh(p,n)¹⁰³Pd, ¹⁰³Rh(p,3n)¹⁰¹Pd and ¹⁰³Rh(p,4n)¹⁰⁰Pd from their respective thresholds up to 39.6 MeV. The radioactivity of the activation products was determined by high-resolution X-ray and γ-ray spectrometry. Statistical model calculations taking into account the precompound effects were performed for all reactions, and good agreement was found with our data. A critical evaluation of the existing and present data for the ¹⁰³Rh(p,n)¹⁰³Pd reaction was carried out. Recommended cross sections and integral yields for this reaction of key importance in the production of the widely used therapeutic radionuclide ¹⁰³Pd are given.     

Optimisation study of α-cyclotron production of At-211/Po-211g for high-LET metabolic radiotherapy purposes

The production of no-carrier-added (NCA) α-emitter ²¹¹At/^211gPo radionuclides for high-LET targeted radiotherapy and immunoradiotherapy, through the ²⁰⁹Bi(α,2n) reaction, together with the required wet radiochemistry and radioanalytical quality controls carried out at LASA is described, through dedicated irradiation experiments at the MC-40 cyclotron of JRC-Ispra. The amount of both the γ-emitter ²¹⁰At and its long half-lived α-emitting daughter ²¹⁰Po is optimised and minimised by appropriate choice of energy and energy loss of α particle beam. The measured excitation functions for production of the main radioisotopic impurity ²¹⁰At→²¹⁰Po are compared with theoretical predictions from model calculations performed at ENEA.