An electro-amalgamation approach to isolate no-carrier-added 177Lu from neutron irradiated Yb for biomedical applications.
BACKGROUND
A novel two-step separation process for the production of no-carrier-added (NCA) (177)Lu from neutron irradiated Yb target through an electrochemical pathway employing mercury-pool cathode has been developed.


METHODS
A two-cycle electrolysis procedure was adopted for separation of (177)Lu from (177)Lu/Yb mixture in lithium citrate medium. The influence of different experimental parameters on the separation process was investigated and optimized for the quantitative deposition of Yb in presence of (177)Lu. The first electrolysis was performed for 50 min in the (177)Lu/Yb feed solution at pH 6 applying a potential of 8 V using platinum electrode as anode and mercury as the cathode. The second electrolysis was performed under the same conditions using fresh electrodes. The radionuclidic and chemical purity of (177)Lu was determined by using gamma ray spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry. The suitability of (177)Lu for biomedical applications was ascertained by labeling 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid D-Phe(1)-Tyr(3)-octreotate(DOTA-TATE) with (177)Lu.


RESULTS
This process could provide NCA (177)Lu with >99.99% radionuclidic purity and an overall separation yield of ∼99% was achieved within 3-4 h. The Hg content in the product was determined to be <1 ppm. Radiolabeling yield of >98% was obtained with DOTA-TATE under the optimized reaction conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
An efficient strategy for the separation of NCA (177)Lu, suitable for biomedical applications, has been developed.
Chakravarty
Rubel
R
Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India.
Das
Tapas
T
Dash
Ashutosh
A
Venkatesh
Meera
M
D003198:Computer Simulation; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D004572:Electrolysis; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry*; D009502:Neutrons; D015282:Octreotide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015018:Ytterbium / Q000528:radiation effects*
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C447941:lutetium Lu 177 dotatate; D008628:Mercury; D015018:Ytterbium; D015282:Octreotide