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Study of gels of molybdenum with cerium in the preparation of generators of 99Mo - 99mTc

Abstracts

99mTc has ideal nuclear properties for organ imaging in nuclear medicine, and it is obtained from the 99Mo-99mTc generator. Four different types of generators are available: chromatographic that uses 99Mo from fission of uranium; MEK solvent extraction; Tc2O7 sublimation; gel chromatographic. This work presents the preparation of gel generators of molybdenum with cerium and characterization of the gels: mass ratio between molybdenum and cerium, structure, size of particles and elution percentage of 99mTc after irradiating the gels. Eight gels were prepared at the same temperature of 50 ºC with concentrations of NaOH of 2 and 4 mol/L, mass ratio of 0.31 and 0.38 and final pH of 3.5 and 4.5. The analysis of the results proved that these gels are not adequate for preparation of the generators of 99Mo-99mTc, since the elution percentages are low, when compared with the gel of molybdenum with zirconium.

Radioisotopes; technetium-99m; molybdenum-99; gel generator


O 99mTc é o radiofármaco mais utilizado em Medicina Nuclear. Ele é obtido do gerador de 99Mo-99mTc e existem quatro tipos diferentes de geradores: cromatográfico que utiliza 99Mo de fissão; extração por solvente com MKT; sublimação do heptaóxido de tecnécio; cromatográfico tipo gel. Este trabalho apresenta a preparação de geradores tipo gel de molibdênio com cério, a caracterização desses géis com relação à quantidade de molibdênio e de cério, sua estrutura, tamanho das partículas e porcentagem de eluição do 99mTc após o gel ser irradiado. Foram preparados oito géis na temperatura de 50ºC com concentração de NaOH de 2 e 4 mol/L, relação de massa de 0,31 e 0,38 e pH final de 3,5 e 4,5. A análise dos resultados comprovou que esses géis não são adequados para preparação dos geradores de 99Mo-99mTc, já que as porcentagens de eluição são baixas, quando comparadas com o gel de molibdênio com zircônio.


NUCLEAR PHARMACY

Study of gels of molybdenum with cerium in the preparation of generators of 99Mo - 99mTc

Vanessa Moraes; Bárbara Marczewski; Carla Roberta Dias; João Alberto Osso Junior* * Author for correspondence

Centro de Radiofarmácia do IPEN-CNEN/SP

ABSTRACT

99mTc has ideal nuclear properties for organ imaging in nuclear medicine, and it is obtained from the 99Mo-99mTc generator. Four different types of generators are available: chromatographic that uses 99Mo from fission of uranium; MEK solvent extraction; Tc2O7 sublimation; gel chromatographic. This work presents the preparation of gel generators of molybdenum with cerium and characterization of the gels: mass ratio between molybdenum and cerium, structure, size of particles and elution percentage of 99mTc after irradiating the gels. Eight gels were prepared at the same temperature of 50 ºC with concentrations of NaOH of 2 and 4 mol/L, mass ratio of 0.31 and 0.38 and final pH of 3.5 and 4.5. The analysis of the results proved that these gels are not adequate for preparation of the generators of 99Mo-99mTc, since the elution percentages are low, when compared with the gel of molybdenum with zirconium.

Key words: Radioisotopes, technetium-99m, molybdenum-99, gel generator

RESUMO

O 99mTc é o radiofármaco mais utilizado em Medicina Nuclear. Ele é obtido do gerador de 99Mo-99mTc e existem quatro tipos diferentes de geradores: cromatográfico que utiliza 99Mo de fissão; extração por solvente com MKT; sublimação do heptaóxido de tecnécio; cromatográfico tipo gel.

Este trabalho apresenta a preparação de geradores tipo gel de molibdênio com cério, a caracterização desses géis com relação à quantidade de molibdênio e de cério, sua estrutura, tamanho das partículas e porcentagem de eluição do 99mTc após o gel ser irradiado.

Foram preparados oito géis na temperatura de 50ºC com concentração de NaOH de 2 e 4 mol/L, relação de massa de 0,31 e 0,38 e pH final de 3,5 e 4,5.

A análise dos resultados comprovou que esses géis não são adequados para preparação dos geradores de 99Mo-99mTc, já que as porcentagens de eluição são baixas, quando comparadas com o gel de molibdênio com zircônio.

INTRODUCTION

The basic requirements of radionuclides to be used in Nuclear Medicine are a physical half-life compatible with the studies to be carried out; low toxicity; adequate radionuclidic, radiochemical and chemical purities; high specific activity; fast availability and low price; possibility of labeling for preparation of radiopharmaceuticals.1

When it is necessary to obtain three-dimensional and dynamic images of organs or tissues of patients, the SPECT (single photon emitter computadorized tomography) technique of is used.2, 3

Radioisotopes used in this technique must have the following characteristics: emit gamma radiation with energy between 100 and 300 keV, decay by electron capture or isomeric transition, possess adequate physical half-life for the physiological study of interest, not emit corpuscular radiation to minimize the dose of radiation for the patient. Some radioisotopes usually used in SPECT are 81mKr (13.0 s), 99mTc(6.0 h), 123I (13.0 h), 77Br (57.0 h), 111In (67.9 h), 201Tl (73.0 h), 67Ga (78.3 h), 131I(8.0 d).4

99mTc is the isotope most commonly used in Nuclear Medicine, because of its nuclear characteristics: short half-life (6.04 h), emission of gamma radiation of low energy (140 keV), absence of beta emission, 100% of decay by isomeric transition to 99Tc. Labeled molecules with 99mTc are used for visualization of kidneys, liver, lungs and skeleton.

A 99Mo-99mTc generator is a system formed with these two radioisotopes, where the molybdenum, by radioactive decay, produces the technetium that must be separated from molybdenum. 99Mo can be produced by several nuclear reactions in particle accelerators or nuclear reactors. Currently, four different types of preparation of 99Mo-99mTc generators are available based on the separation techniques: column chromatography with alumina, which uses 99Mo from fission, solvent extration using methyl ethyl ketone, sublimation of the Tc2O7, and a chromatographic gel type generator that contains molybdenum.

Between 1978 and 1988, in Australia, the research for the attainment of the 99Mo-99mTc generator by the gel process was developed. 99Mo is produced by the (n, g) reaction and is incorporated into a gel of zirconium molybdate. The specific activity of 99Mo is low, but adequate for the preparation of the generators in countries with limited infrastructure. In the literature, preparations of gels are reported replacing zirconium with:

Cerium (IV), which is efficient in the loss of elution efficiency provoked by radiolysis;

Titanium, prepared in countries such as Argentina, Czech Republic, India, Peru and Vietnam;

Mixture of MoO3-V2O5-SiC, used in Hungary;

Zirconium molybdate, developed in Egypt, can be eluted with distilled water or saline solution;

12-molybdenumcerate (IV) also developed in Egypt.5, 6

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Molybdenum oxide (MoO3), analytical grade Merck;

Cerium sulphate tetrahydrate [Ce(SO4)2.4 H2O], analytical grade Merck;

Sodium hidroxide (NaOH), analytical grade Merck;

Nitric acid (HNO3), analytical grade Merck;

Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), analytical grade Merck;

Distilled water.

Procedure

MoO3 was dissolved in NaOH, the pH was adjusted to 4.0 with HNO3, the solution was stirred and warmed to 50 ºC. Separately, Ce(SO4)2.4 H2O was dissolved in 0.1 mol/L H2SO4, the pH of the solution was adjusted to 1.5 with Na2CO3, and the solution was added dropwise to the molybdenum solution. The mixture was stirred, and the final pH was adjusted with NaOH in the same concentration used initially. The mixture remained in agitation until being filtered, and the gel was dried. After drying, the gel is washed three times with saline solution to remove the fines and dried.

Determination of the size of the gel particles

The granulometry was determined by swing with a magnetic agitator of sieve, series 9802, Bertel Metallurgic Industry Ltda., which measures the distribution of the size of particles through a measured of mass. A gel adequate for the preparation of the molybdenum generator must possess particles of size between 0.106 and 0.150 mm. If the particles are smaller than 0.106 mm, they can pass through the porous plate that is placed in the lower part of the glass column of the generator and, if the particles are larger than 0.150 mm, elution channels may form.

X-Rays diffraction

The equipment used for this procedure is a Bruker-ACS, model D8 Advance X-ray diffratometer with a 40 kV tension, 20 mA electric intensity copper source, monochromator beam and fixed, glass plate, Ka filter and window with a 1 mm beam of the Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica of IPEN-CNEN/SP. This technique has been used to determine the structure of the gel, which allows one to determine whether the gel is amorphous or crystalline.

99Mo-99mTc generators prepared with molybdenum and cerium must have an amorphous structure because this type of structure provides greater capacity for ion exchange, that is, the capacity to remove the technetium that was produced by the radioactive decay of the molybdenum when the generator was eluted.

Determination of the amount of molybdenum and cerium in the gel

The amount of molybdenum and cerium in the gels was determined by neutron activation analysis. The technique consists of the interaction of a material with neutrons and the posterior measurement of the induced radioactivity. Generally, the irradiation is carried out with thermal neutrons generated by a nuclear reactor, and the radioactivity of each radionuclide produced is measured by gamma ray spectroscopy. Equal masses of gel and the molybdenum (MoO3) and cerium (CeO2) standards were irradiated at the same time in the IEA-R1 reactor of IPEN-CNEN/SP with a neutron flux of 5 x 1011 n. cm-2. s-1.

Irradiation of the gel

Gels of molybdenum with cerium were irradiated in the IEA-R1 reactor of the IPEN-CNEN/SP during one hour with a neutron flux of 1,0 x 1013 n. cm-2. s-1.

99Mo-99mTc Generators The generators were prepared using glass columns with a porous plate, in which alumina and the irradiated gels were placed.

99mTc Elution

This process consisted of passing saline solution through the irradiated gel to remove the technetium.

Determination of the radioisotopes in the eluate

Radioisotopes in the eluate were determined by gamma ray spectroscopy using a Germanium hiperpure (HP), model GX1518, detector, Canberra, connected to an acquisition system with data handling by microcomputer, program GENIE - PC.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Preparation of the gels

Molybdenum with cerium gels were prepared at 50 ºC and the variables studied in its preparation are presented in Table 1.

Determination of the amount of molybdenum in the gels

The percentage of molybdenum in the gels was determined by neutron activation analysis, and the results are presented in Table 2.

Determination of the amount of cerium in the gels

The percentage of cerium in the gels was determined by neutron activation analysis and the results are presented in Table 3.

From the results in Table 3, it can be observed that the Ce-05 preparation presented the highest cerium percentage in the gel, although all the preparations presented high cerium percentages when compared with the molybdenum percentage. From the results in Table 2, it can be seen that the amount of molybdenum was small and that low 99mTc activities would be obtained.

Determination of the gel structure

The X-ray diffractogram for the molybdenum and cerium gels showed that they were amorphous (Fig. 1). This diffractogram represents the X-ray diffraction for all the gels of molybdenum with cerium and it can be observed that it does not have peaks of semi-cristalinity. Table 4 presents the structure of the gels of molybdenum with cerium.


Determination of the size of the gel particles

The size distribution of particles in the molybdenum with cerium gels can be seen in Fig.2.


The molybdenum with cerium gels of the Ce 03, 05, 06, 07 and 08 preparations possessed more than 80% of their particles with size of 0.300 mm (Fig. 3), while in the Ce-04 preparation, over 75% of particles possessed this size. The consequence of this fact was the formation of channels for the preferential elution of 99mTc. For the Ce-01 preparation, more than 40% of its particles had a diameter of 0.053 mm. They were very small for the preparation of the generator and the gel was able to pass through the porous plate, contaminating the 99mTc eluate.

Fig. 3

99mTc elution of the generator prepared with irradiated gels

Received: July 05, 2005;

Revised: July 14, 2005;

Accepted: August 01, 2005

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  • *
    Author for correspondence
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      09 Dec 2005
    • Date of issue
      Oct 2005

    History

    • Accepted
      01 Aug 2005
    • Received
      05 July 2005
    • Reviewed
      14 July 2005
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