Optimized procedures for manganese-52: Production, separation and radiolabeling

Pressed chromium-powder cyclotron targets were irradiated with 16 MeV protons, producing 52Mn with average yields of 6.2±0.8 MBq/µAh. Separation by solid-phase anion exchange from ethanol-HCl mixtures recovered 94.3±1.7% of 52Mn and reduced the chromium content by a factor of 2.2±0.4×105. An additional AG 1-X8 column was used to remove copper, iron, cobalt and zinc impurities from the prepared 52Mn in 8 M HCl. The macrocyclic chelator DOTA was rapidly radiolabeled with 52Mn in aq. ammonium acetate (pH 7.5 R.T.) with a radiochemical yield >99% within 1 min and was stable for >2 days in bovine serum. The improved separation and purification methodology facilitates the use of 52Mn in basic science and preclinical investigations.