This research is related to the preparation and initial characterization of gadolinium nanoparticles as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agent. Nanomaterial-based contrast agents aim to improve clearer imaging, longer examination retention times with lower toxicity than gadolinium ion-based contrast agents, and evaluate the potential use of MRI contrast agents for early detection of cancer. Gadolinium nanoparticles were synthesized using polyol method with stabilizer and chemical reaction process at high temperature. The stabilizers used are diethylene glycol (DEG) and triethylene glycol (TEG). The reaction process was carried out at 180°C for 4 hours to obtain gadolinium nanoparticles with uniform size and shape. The results of hydrodynamic and visual measurements using DLS and HRTEM instruments on the gadolinium nanoparticles produced were 50 nm and 18 nm, respectively. The results of the characterization of the crystal structure obtained the X-ray diffraction pattern in the crystal plane (222), which is a typical for the Gd2O3 crystal phase. Characterization of chemical bonds using FTIR showed absorption at 1438-1627 cm−1, 1000-1138 cm−1 and 450-795 cm−1 indicated the presence of Gd-O bond vibrations, while absorption at 1310-1466 cm−1 indicated the presence of Gd-O-Gd bonds. This is evidenced by the similarity with the absorption peak of commercial Gd2O3. The content of free Gd3+ ions found in the synthesized products detected was only about 0.99% of the Gd3+ precursors used.
Residual radioisotope analysis as a result of cyclotron-based 18F production is of paramount importance since it relates to the radiation safety of patients as well as radiation workers. In this investigation, 18-MeV proton beams were employed to irradiate enriched water (H2
18O) target for 18F production while Talys Evaluated Nuclear Data Library (TENDL) 2017 were used to study the origins of the radionuclide impurities. Gamma rays emmitted by the residual radionuclides were detected using a gamma ray spectroscopic system following a month of decay while their origins were analyzed from the TENDL 2017 nuclear cross-section calculations. Experimental results indicated that several long-lived radionuclides such as 109Cd, 57Co, 57Ni, 58Co and 56Co were recorded by the gamma ray spectroscopic system. The long-lived residual radionuclides were presumably due to proton interactions with Havar window and Silver body. Using the TENDL 2017-calculated nuclear cross-sections, it was discovered that several nuclear reactions responsible for the residual radioisotopes include 109Ag(p,n)109Cd which corresponded to the generation of 109Cd radioisotope, 60Ni(p,α)57Co and 58Ni(p,2p)57Co reactions for the formation of 57Co, 58Ni(p,d)57Ni reaction for the production of 57Ni radioisotope, 58Fe(p,n)58Co reaction for the generation of 58Co, and 56Fe(p,n)56Co reaction for the formation of 56Co. This experimental result can be used as a reference for future production of 18F and other radioisotopes should Havar window and silver body are used in the target system.
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