211Rn/211At and 209At production with intense mass separated Fr ion beams for preclinical 211At-based α-therapy research

Mass-separated francium beams (211Fr or 213Fr) were implanted into solid targets for producing 211Rn (14.6 h half-life) or 209At (5.41 h), in situ. 211Rn was transferred to dodecane and isolated from contaminants, providing sources for 211At (7.21 h) production by 211Rn decay (73%). 209At was recovered with high radionuclidic purity in aqueous solutions, directly. These experiments demonstrated Fr beam implantations as a novel method for producing preclinical quantities of 211Rn/211At (for therapy) and 209At (for imaging).