title: Discovery of rhenium and masurium (technetium) by Ida Noddack-Tacke and Walter Noddack. Forgotten heroes of nuclear medicine.
abstract: The history of the early identification of elements and their designation to the Mendeleev Table of the Elements was an important chapter in German science in which Ida (1896-1978) and Walter (1893-1960) Noddack played an important role in the first identification of rhenium (element 75, 1925) and technetium (element 43, 1933). In 1934 Ida Noddack was also the first to predict fission of uranium into smaller atoms. Although the Noddacks did not for some time later receive the recognition for the first identification of technetium-99m, their efforts have appropriately more recently been recognized. The discoveries of these early pioneers are even more astounding in light of the limited technologies and resources which were available during this period. The Noddack discoveries of elements 43 and 75 are related to the subsequent use of rhenium-188 (beta/gamma emitter) and technetium-99m (gamma emitter) in nuclear medicine. In particular, the theranostic relationship between these two generator-derived radioisotopes has been demonstrated and offers new opportunities in the current era of personalized medicine.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. H.-J. Biersack, Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin der Universität Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany, hjbiersack@web.de.
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Biersack
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stelzner
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Knapp
mesh_terms: D005858:Germany; D049673:History, 20th Century; D009680:Nuclear Fission; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000266:history*; D009686:Nuclear Physics / Q000266:history*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000266:history*; D012211:Rhenium / Q000266:history*; D013667:Technetium / Q000266:history*; D000068936:Theranostic Nanomedicine / Q000266:history*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012211:Rhenium; D013667:Technetium
keywords: 188Re; 99mTc; Ida Noddack-Tacke; Walter Noddack; masurium; rhenium; technetium; thera(g)nostics