NEWS!

In the framework of the INFN activities dedicated to life science, the LARAMED (LAboratory of RAdionuclides for MEDicine) project at the Legnaro National Laboratories (LNL) now assumes a key role. The aim is to investigate the production methods of innovative radionuclides to be employed in diagnostic and therapeutic medical procedures, mainly for tumours, with next-generation radiopharmaceuticals. First cross section measurement tests have been successfully performed using the target station tailored designed (and shown in the picutre below). Several proton beam energies accelerated by the SPES cyclotron have been tested with stacked-foils target composed by thin layers of different materials. The figure below shows the gamma spectra of a natural zinc target, irradiated with 50 MeV protons, where the 67Cu gamma lines can be observed (highlighted in the plot). The theranostic 67Cu radionuclide, among the LARAMED goals, is currently under the spotlight of the international community for its potential in the diagnosis and treatment of some tumours, e.g. prostate cancer and glioblastoma.

Natural zinc spectrum with 67Cu gamma lines highlighted (left); target station used for the first cross sections tests (right).

The website presents the LARAMED (LAboratory of RAdionuclides for MEDicine) facility, as part of the SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) research infrastructure under completion at the INFN-LNL, along with the main project outcomes gained during the last years, thanks to an ongoing fruitful network of collaborations. 

The interdisciplinary aspects of the production of medically-relevant radionuclides, such as 67Cu, 47Sc, 52Mn etc., are shown, including the latest technological achievements in targetry, radiochemistry, and applied nuclear physics. 

The ambitious goals of the LARAMED project are reached thanks to a solid team work.

Scheme of the main steps in the direct production of medical radionuclides.

The research activities on radionuclides production for medicine (e.g., new radiopharmaceuticals development) and applied and interdisciplinary physics (e.g., radiobiology and environmental studies) at the INFN-LNL are coordinated by the Radioisotopes for Medicine and Applied Physics service (RMFA) located in the research division.