Production of 43sc Radionuclide and Radiopharmaceuticals Thereof for Use in Positron Emission Tomography

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent discloses efficient methods for producing the radionuclide 43Sc (scandium-43) with high purity and yield, suitable for use in radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. It describes several nuclear reactions using enriched calcium or titanium targets irradiated with protons or deuterons, alongside chemical processes for isolating 43Sc and recycling valuable target materials. The invention enables the preparation of 43Sc-based radiopharmaceuticals optimized for medical imaging applications.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Production of 43Sc-labeled radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging in oncology, cardiology, neurology, or immunology.
• Centralized manufacture and supply of 43Sc-based radiotracers to hospitals and imaging centers.
• Use in theranostic approaches, where 43Sc is paired with therapeutic radionuclides for diagnosis and dosimetry before therapy.
• Development of new diagnostic agents for personalized medicine based on peptides, antibodies, or nanoparticles labeled with 43Sc.
• Improvement of PET imaging workflows by providing tracers with a longer half-life for shipment over longer distances.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables high-yield, high-purity production of 43Sc, overcoming supply and performance limitations of other PET radionuclides like 68Ga.
• Provides a positron emitter with a longer half-life (3.9 h), allowing broader distribution and imaging flexibility compared to shorter-lived isotopes.
• Reduces radiation exposure and image noise by offering lower energy gamma emission than alternatives.
• Facilitates accurate therapy planning and dosimetry by chemically matching diagnostic and therapeutic radiometals (e.g., using 43Sc and 177Lu or 90Y with similar biological behavior).
• Utilizes existing biomedical cyclotrons, making production cost-effective and leveraging established healthcare infrastructure.
• Enables recycling of expensive enriched target materials, reducing overall operational costs and environmental impact.
• Improves stability and compatibility with widely-used chelators (e.g., DOTA), allowing easy adaptation to current radiopharmaceuticals.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The radionuclide 43Sc is produced according to the present invention at commercially significant yields and at specific activities and radionuclidic purities which are suitable for use in radiodiagnostic agents such as Positron Emission Tomography imaging agents. In the method and system of the present invention, a solid target having an isotopically enriched target layer prepared on an inert substrate is positioned in a specially designed target holder and irradiated with a charged-particle beam of protons or deuterons. The beam is generated using an accelerator such as a biomedical cyclotron at energies ranging from 3 to about 22 MeV. The present invention comprises the use of three different nuclear reactions: a) irradiation of enriched 43Ca targets with protons to generate the radionuclide 43Scin the nuclear reaction 43Ca (p,n)43Sc, b) irradiation of enriched 42Ca targets with deuterons to generate the radionuclide 43Sc in the nuclear reaction 42Ca(d,n)43Sc, and c) irradiation of enriched 46Ti targets with protons to generate the radionuclide 43Sc in the nuclear reaction 46Ti (p,a) 43Sc.