Several types of generators have been developed for the production of 99mTc. Due to its excellent performances, the chromatographic type, based on the fission-produced 99Mo sorbed in alumina, is predominant. Technetium-99m is obtained in the form of sodium pertechnetate-99mTc. However, due to the known disadvantages of the production of (n, f)99Mo, attempts are made to avoid uranium fission. The technologies based on (n, g)99Mo (sublimation, extraction, gel) are, with the exception of the gel generator, of limited importance. Certain nuclear reactions in cyclotrons can produce 99Mo (or directly 99mTc) but the obtained results are still not satisfying. Technetium-99m is used in the form of radiopharmaceuticals which are prepared by addition of 99mTc-eluate to the inactive components comprised in the 'cold' kits. The chromatographic (n, f)99Mo/99mTc generator and several 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals have been developed and are regularly produced in the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences (Laboratory for Radioisotopes)
The paper deals with production and application of open radioactive sources in modern diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine. In principle, besides adequate physical, chemical and biological properties a reliable route for the routine production of both radionuclide and radiopharmaceutical should be on disposal. The favorite route are radionuclidic generators as they enable simple production of shorter-lived radionuclides at relatively low costs. The main radionuclide in diagnosis is technetium-99m. Its advantages are favorable nuclear properties, availability of large activities of high quality 99mTc at reasonable prices by using (n,f)99Mo/99mTc generators and versatile chemistry. It is used in the investigation of practically all organs and tissues in the human body. Among the betaemitters the radionuclides of rhenium have been recently proposed as suitable candidates for therapeutic applications. The most important is 188Re which is obtained from 188W/188Re generator. Some of the important radiopharmaceuticals labeled with rhenium radionuclides used for certain specific indications are also shown. The activities performed in the Laboratory for Radioisotopes (Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences) are also enclosed
188Re is expected to have wide applications after development of a chromatographic 188W/188Re generator. One of the advantages of rhenium is tis chemical similarity with technetium. So technetium analogues labeled with 186,188Re can be developed for several specific applications.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.