STarDiS

STarDiS is an automatic system for processing radioisotopes from solid targets. To synthesise the radiopharmaceutical, the target containing the radioisotope must be dissolved by means of an acid solvent attack and then chemically treated by liquid-phase processes. Traditionally, radiopharmaceuticals are produced from targets that are already in a liquid state, and systems for the complete processing of solid targets are not available on the market, but only dissolution modules specific to particular types of target station. The possibility of managing operations with solid targets in a simple and inexpensive way, without being tied to a particular type of target station is therefore a felt and still unresolved need for many centres specialised in production with liquid targets.

The project aims to build a dissolution module that can be connected via a simple adapter to commercial synthesis systems and that allows the radioisotope dissolution module and the drug synthesis and purification module to be in a single system. This product is based on an open-bottomed vial handling system coupled to the motor of the syringe drive module, and a target holder adapted to the heater cavity.

This solution also lends itself to selective chemical attack when used with solid targets deposited on an inert substrate. In this way, separation and purification of the radioisotope is greatly simplified by reducing the amount of chemical species in solution. This is also possible by only applying a thin sheet of inert material to the surface between the target and substrate, making it possible to use materials that are not chemically inert but have a higher thermal conductivity for the substrate, thus enabling a higher yield of radioisotope production.

This could reduce the time and cost for producing radiopharmaceuticals.