Lu-177 preparation for radiotherapy application

A separation study using a 176Yb target for the preparation of nca 177Lu, which is a beta-emitting nuclide used not only in radioimmunotherapy applications but also in the treatment of various lesions, has been performed. A material having a better selectivity and separation efficiency for Lu than Yb was developed, and the separation conditions of 177Lu were derived using this from a neutron irradiated 176Yb target. The separation material was an organo-ceramic hybrid material containing a phosphate group. Adsorption behavior was determined through batch experiments, and 177Lu separation from the Yb target was evaluated through column experiments. The Yb target, with a 99.72% in 176Yb, was irradiated in the irradiation hole of HANARO, which has a thermal neutron flux of 1.6E+14 n cm−2 s−1. The batch experiments revealed that the organo-ceramic hybrid material (Sol-POS) had a separation factor of 1.6 at 0.5 M HCl. Separation was performed through extraction chromatography using a 5 mg enriched Yb target, and the separation yield of the NCA 177Lu was about 78%. If the amount of Yb target is increased to produce curies level 177Lu, additional purification will be needed.