Comparing different methods for radioactive iodine fixation intended for brachytherapy sources manufacture

Brachytherapy, a method of radiotherapy, is being extensively used in the early and intermediate stages of the illness. In this treatment, radioactive seeds are placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment, which reduces the probability of unnecessary damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Currently, the radioactive isotope iodine-125, fixated on silver substrate, is one of the most used in prostate brachytherapy. The present study compares several deposition methods of radioactive iodine on silver substrate, in order to choose the most suitable one to be implemented at the laboratory of radioactive sources production of IPEN. Three methods were selected: method 1 (test based on electrodeposition method, developed by David Kubiatowicz) which presented efficiency of 65.16%; method 2 (chemical reaction based on the method developed by David Kubiatowicz - HCl) which presented efficiency of 70.80%; method 3 (chemical reaction based on the method developed by Dr. Maria Elisa Rostelato) which presented efficiency of 55.80%. Based on the results, the second method is the suggested one to be implemented at the laboratory of radioactive sources production of IPEN.