A flexible irradiation facility for producing radioisotopes

A breakthrough in the production of microspheres containing the radioactive isotope Holmium-166, used for patients with liver cancer, went hand in hand with the development of a TU Delft innovation: the ‘flexible irradiation facility’. In this new 'sample holder' Holmium-165 is cleverly converted into Holmium-166; the microspheres are irradiated to a high level of activity, without damaging the biodegradable envelope by gamma radiation. The principle of an adjustable irradiation chamber was developed for TU Delft’s research reactor but could be applied in any nuclear reactor. "This has brought the production of isotopes for medical applications closer to the patients," explains TU Delft researcher Dr Antonia Denkova, head of the research project.

To read more please visit: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/faculty-of-applied-sciences/research/in-the-spotlight/a-flexible-irradiation-facility-for-producing-radioisotopes/

Source: TUDelft