METHOD AND TARGET FOR THE PRODUCTION OF Cu-67

The invention concerns the production of Cu-67, a radionuclide of nuclear-medical interest for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. In particular, a method has been devised for the production of Cu-67 using cyclotron-produced proton beams in the 70-10 MeV energy range and a target using two different isotopes of Zinc to maximise the production yield of Cu-67 and minimise that of Cu-64, its main contaminant.

How does it work?

In recent years there has been a significant increase in interest in the radionuclide Cu-67, thanks to its potential use in theranostics to select patients with a diagnostic investigation before undergoing therapy. The current method of production of Cu-67 radionuclide, which involves irradiating Zn-68 targets, limits its broad and widespread use as it allows a low production of Cu-67 and the co-production, in large quantities, of the unwanted contaminant Cu-64.

The present invention provides a method to maximise the Cu-67/Cu-64 production ratio, thus being able to have high amounts of Cu-67 and a lower Cu-64 content. This is achieved by irradiating with proton beams, in the 70-10 MeV energy range, innovative targets composed of Zn-70 and Zn-68, characterized by appropriate thicknesses and arranged in a predetermined configuration.

Applications

• Diagnostic imaging and therapy;
• Industrial production of radionuclides for medical applications;
• Development of high-power targets and ad hoc cooling systems;
• Development of automatic radiochemical separation and purification modules.

Advantages

• Maximum Cu-67 production;
• Minimum Cu-64 production;
• Unique procedure for processing the irradiated target.