Open AccessProduction and therapeutic application of rhenium isotopes, rhenium-186 and rhenium-188: Radioactive pharmaceuticals of the future
Author(s) -
J. L. Vučina,
Ruben Han
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
medicinski pregled
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1820-7383
pISSN - 0025-8105
DOI - 10.2298/mpns0308362v
Subject(s) - rhenium , medicine , radiochemistry , perrhenate , nuclear medicine , chemistry , inorganic chemistry
In contemporary nuclear medicine, alpha, pure beta or beta-gamma emitters are used for targeted therapy. Use of pure and combined alpha/beta emitters in oncology, endocrinology, rheumatology and, a short while ago, interventional cardiology, has refined as an important alternative to more common therapeutic regimens. Two radioisotopes of rhenium, rhenium-186 and rhenium-188, are of particular interest. PRODUCTION OF RHENIUM-186 AND RHENIUM-188: Rhenium-186 is routinely produced in nuclear reactors by direct neutron activation of metallic rhenium enriched with 185Re via 185Re(n,) 186Re nuclear reaction. For production of 188Re the target is 186W. 188W is produced by double neutron capture which gives 188Re due to beta decay. Separation of 188Re is performed in generators by column chromatography, extraction or by gel technology. The best results are obtained using chromatographic 188W/188Re generator in which 188W is adsorbed on aluminium. Rhenium-188 is eluted in saline solution.