An improved 62Zn/62Cu generator based on a cation exchanger and its fully remote-controlled preparation for clinical use

ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to develop an improved 62Zn/62Cu generator based on cation exchange resin and remote preparation at high radioactivity scale for clinical use.MethodsA natural Cu target was irradiated with proton beam in the energy range of 30→19 MeV at a beam current of 10 μA for 1 h to obtain around 1.7 GBq of 62Zn. The 62Zn was isolated from the Cu target on an anion exchange column with more than 97% yield within 2.5 h from the EOB. The 62Zn/62Cu generator was prepared by loading the 62Zn2+ on a Sep-Pak plus CM cartridge.ResultsThe generator showed high elution efficiency (∼96%) using a small volume (ca. 3 ml) of a 200-mM glycine solution with a very low breakthrough of 62Zn (<0.1%).ConclusionsThis 62Zn/62Cu generator has been proven to be highly useful as a source of 62Cu for the synthesis of 62Cu-labeled compounds. The clinical application of [62Cu]Cu-ATSM produced with this generator has been already approved by the Institutional Review Board at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences.