Chemical processing for production of no-carrier-added selenium-73 from germanium and arsenic targets and synthesis of L-2-amino-4-([73Se]methylseleno) butyric acid (L-[73Se]selenomethionine)

Evaluation of nuclear reaction cross section data of proton and deuteron induced reactions on 75As, with particular emphasis on the production of 73Se

75Se (T1/2 = 120 d), 73gSe (T1/2 = 7.1 h) and 72Se (T1/2 = 8.4 d) are important radioisotopes of selenium, being used in tracer studies, PET investigations and as a generator parent, respectively. Cross section data for the formation of those radionuclides in proton and deuteron induced reactions on 75As were critically analyzed up to about 70 MeV. A well-developed evaluation methodology was applied to generate the statistically fitted cross sections, based on the critically analyzed literature experimental data and the theoretical cross section values of three nuclear model codes ALICE-IPPE, TAYLS 1.9, and EMPIRE 3.2. Using the fitted cross sections the integral yield of each radionuclide was calculated. For the estimation of impurities, the integral yield of each radionuclide was compared with the yields of the other two radionuclides over a given energy region, and therefrom the energy range was suggested for the high purity production of each of the radionuclides 75Se, 73Se and 72Se. For production of the very important non-standard positron emitter 73Se via the 75As(p,3n)73Se reaction, the optimum energy range was deduced to be E p = 40 → 30 MeV, with a thick target yield of 1441 MBq/μAh and the 72,75Se impurity level of <0.1%.

Expanding PET-applications in life sciences with positron-emitters beyond fluorine-18

Positron-emission-tomography (PET) has become an indispensable diagnostic tool in modern nuclear medicine. Its outstanding molecular imaging features allow repetitive studies on one individual and with high sensitivity, though no interference. Rather few positron-emitters with near favourable physical properties, i.e. carbon-11 and fluorine-18, furnished most studies in the beginning, preferably if covalently bound as isotopic label of small molecules. With the advancement of PET-devices the scope of in vivo research in life sciences and especially that of medical applications expanded, and other than "standard" PET-nuclides received increasing significance, like the radiometals copper-64 and gallium-68. Especially during the last decades, positron-emitters of other chemical elements have gotten into the focus of interest, concomitant with the technical advancements in imaging and radionuclide production. With known nuclear imaging properties and main production methods of emerging positron-emitters their usefulness for medical application is promising and even proven for several ones already. Unfortunate decay properties could be corrected for, and β⁺-emitters, especially with a longer half-life, provided new possibilities for application where slower processes are of importance. Further on, (bio)chemical features of positron-emitters of other elements, among there many metals, not only expanded the field of classical clinical investigations, but also opened up new fields of application. Appropriately labelled peptides, proteins and nanoparticles lend itself as newer probes for PET-imaging, e.g. in theragnostic or PET/MR hybrid imaging. Furthermore, the potential of non-destructive in-vivo imaging with positron-emission-tomography directs the view on further areas of life sciences. Thus, exploiting the excellent methodology for basic research on molecular biochemical functions and processes is increasingly encouraged as well in areas outside of health, such as plant and environmental sciences.

Isolation of high purity 73Se using solid phase extraction after selective 4,5-[73Se]benzopiazselenol formation with aminonaphthalene

A fast and efficient process for the production of the PET radionuclide 73Se was developed using 75Se as a surrogate. 75Se was separated from proton irradiated arsenic trioxide by reaction with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene to 4,5-[75Se]benzopiazelenol. This compound was purified using SPE column chromatography and subsequently decomposed with hydrogen peroxide. For further chemical conversions [75Se]selenite was reduced to elemental [75Se]selenium by either using thiosulfate or sulfur dioxide. The recovery yield of 75Se from the target amounted to 43%. The utility of the isolated 75Se for radiosyntheses was demonstrated by the successful preparation of [75Se]selenomethionine. The methodology developed using 75Se was successfully transformed to 73Se.

Development of novel radionuclides for medical applications

Medical radionuclide production technology is well established. There is, however, a constant need for further development of radionuclides. The present efforts are mainly devoted to nonstandard positron emitters (eg, ⁶⁴ Cu, ⁸⁶ Y, ¹²⁴ I, and ⁷³ Se) and novel therapeutic radionuclides emitting low-range β^- particles (eg, ⁶⁷ Cu and ¹⁸⁶ Re), conversion or Auger electrons (eg, ^117m Sn and ⁷⁷ Br), and α particles (eg, ²²⁵ Ac). A brief account of various aspects of development work (ie, nuclear data, targetry, chemical processing, and quality control) is given. For each radionuclide under consideration, the status of technology for clinical scale production is discussed. The increasing need of intermediate-energy multiple-particle accelerating cyclotrons is pointed out.

Small animal positron emission tomography in food sciences

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a 3-dimensional imaging technique that has undergone tremendous developments during the last decade. Non-invasive tracing of molecular pathways in vivo is the key capability of PET. It has become an important tool in the diagnosis of human diseases as well as in biomedical and pharmaceutical research. In contrast to other imaging modalities, radiotracer concentrations can be determined quantitatively. By application of appropriate tracer kinetic models, the rate constants of numerous different biological processes can be determined. Rapid progress in PET radiochemistry has significantly increased the number of biologically important molecules labelled with PET nuclides to target a broader range of physiologic, metabolic, and molecular pathways. Progress in PET physics and technology strongly contributed to better scanners and image processing. In this context, dedicated high resolution scanners for dynamic PET studies in small laboratory animals are now available. These developments represent the driving force for the expansion of PET methodology into new areas of life sciences including food sciences. Small animal PET has a high potential to depict physiologic processes like absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination and interactions of biologically significant substances, including nutrients, 'nutriceuticals', functional food ingredients, and foodborne toxicants. Based on present data, potential applications of small animal PET in food sciences are discussed.

Synthesis of [75Se]5-ethoxycarbonyl-4-methyl-1,2,3-selenadiazole

Selenium-75 (t1/2 = 120.4d; 100% EC) was prepared in no-carrier-added form by 22MeV proton-bombardment of natural arsenic(III) oxide powder held in a copper-aluminum drawer target (highest yield, 35 microCi/microAh; maximum current, 6 microA), followed by oxidation to [75Se]selenium(IV) oxide. No-carrier-added [75Se]5-ethoxycarbonyl-4-methyl-1,2,3-selenadiazole was prepared in one step from ethylacetoacetate semicarbazone with [75Se]selenium(IV) oxide in glacial acetic acid at 50 degrees C. Column chromatography of the final solution afforded the desired labeled compound in 30% yield and greater than 98% radiochemical purity.

No-carrier-added synthesis of aliphatic and aromatic radioselenoethers via selenocyanates

Various aliphatic and aromatic [(75)Se]selenoethers were prepared at the no-carrier-added (n.c.a.) level using a new radiosynthetic pathway, based on the formation of alkyl[(75)Se]selenocyanates as intermediates. Using one-pot model reactions of elemental (75)Se, sodium cyanide and various alkylbromides in ethanol, the preparation of alkyl[(75)Se]selenocyanates was examined and optimized. Purification of these (75)Se-labeled intermediates and subsequent conversion with alkyl and aryl lithium or Grignard compounds in anhydrous diethyl ether yielded radioselenoethers with radiochemical yields of up to 55% (related to (75)Se(0)) within an overall reaction time of 20 min. This is the first method described to obtain n.c.a. arylselenoethers.

No-carrier-added (n.c.a.) synthesis of asymmetric [73,75Se]selenoethers with isonitriles

A new synthetic pathway for the preparation of no-carrier-added (n.c.a.) [73.75Se]selenoethers was investigated in order to enlarge the scope of available radioselenated compounds. Starting from n.c.a. 73,75Se(0), an isonitrile and an amine, the preparation of appropriate disubstituted radioselenoureas via homogenous and polymer-supported reactions was examined. Alkylation of these intermediates yielded the corresponding [73-75S]selenouronium salts. Hydrolysis under basic conditions provided the [73,75Se]alkylselenolates and a subsequent alkylation yielded various asymmetric [73-75Se]selenoethers with radiochemical yields of 13-56% within a reaction time of 130min in the homogenous phase and 35 min using the polymer-supported synthesis.

The natBr(p,x) (73,75)Se nuclear processes: a convenient route for the production of radioselenium tracers relevant to amino acid labelling

A possible route for the production of no-carrier-added (n.c.a.) 73Se (T(1/2) = 7.1 h) and 75Se (120 d) is introduced. D,L-2-Amino-4-([73Se]methyl-seleno) butanoic acid (D,L-[73Se]selenomethionine) with an overall radiochemical yield of > 40% could be prepared via a 3-step polymer-supported synthesis after successful separation of 73Se from KBr targets. Excitation functions for the natBr(p,x) (72,73,75)Se processes were measured from threshold up to 100 MeV utilizing pellets of pressed KBr. Targets were irradiated at the NAC cyclotron with proton beams having primary energies of 40.4, 66.8 and 100.9 MeV. The calculated 73Se yield (EOB) for 1 h irradiation in 1 microA of beam at the optimum proton energy range of 62-->42 MeV is 81.4 MBq (2.2 mCi), and the calculated 75Se yield (EOB) for the overall range 62 MeV-->threshold for the same irradiation conditions is 0.97 MBq (0.026 mCi).