Researchers at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have conducted a study on the preparation of a low specific activity (LSA) ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator, which has potential application prospects for using the accelerator/reactor-based production of the medical isotope ⁹⁹Mo.

^99mTc, produced from the decay of its parent radioisotope ⁹⁹Mo, is the most commonly used diagnostic medical radioisotope, comprising of 80 percent of all diagnostic radionuclides. Annual worldwide demand for ⁹⁹Mo is estimated to be approximately 500 thousand Ci, used in about 40 million diagnostic procedures.Currently in China, the clinical ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators are  imported .

 Recognising the importance of developing column generators suitable for loading LSA ⁹⁹Mousing  column absorbents which have high absorption capacity for Mo ions, and achieve the recycling of enriched Mo target, the researchers from the Nuclear Chemistry Group of IMP have  synthesised  macro/mesoporous γ-Al2O3 (HMMA) and applied it in the preparation of the LSA ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator.

According to the study, the preparation of HMMA is easy, efficient and economical, and is suited for large-scale fabrication of LSA ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators.

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New Method to Prepare diagnostic Medical radioisotope

Source: PHYSORG