Title: Production calculations of ¹⁷⁷Lu as a no carrier added radionuclide in Tehran Research Reactor

Authors: Nafise Salek; Sara Vosoughi; Ali Bahrami Samani

Addresses: Material and Nuclear Fuel Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Box 14395-836, Tehran, Iran ' Radiation Application Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Box 14395-836, Tehran, Iran ' Material and Nuclear Fuel Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Box 14395-836, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: : Owing to the suitable nuclear decay characteristics, ¹⁷⁷Lu is an attractive radionuclide for various therapeutic applications. The non-carrier added form of ¹⁷⁷Lu has drawn attentions because of its high specific activity needed in radio-labelling studies. In this study, the radioactivities of ¹⁷⁷Lu and other impurities are calculated by MATLAB software. The experimental studies were followed by irradiating of enriched [¹⁷⁶Y]Yb₂O₃ target in TRR in thermal neutron fluxes of 4 × 10¹³ to 1×10¹⁴ n.cm⁻²s⁻¹ for 5-14 days. The separation of ¹⁷⁷Lu from Yb target was performed by EXC and ELM. The results showed there is a good compatibility between the measured values and the results of the theoretical calculations (3% error). Furthermore, by producing ¹⁷⁷Lu in form of NCA, its specific activity increased 104 times with longer shelf-life. The result approved the possibility of production NCA-¹⁷⁷Lu in TRR by suitable specific activity which can be used for antibody and peptide therapy.

Keywords: lutethium-177; NCA; no carrier added; TRR; Tehran Research Reactor; MATLAB software; MCNPX2.6.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2021.122772

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2021 Vol.15 No.2, pp.133 - 145

Received: 23 Jun 2021
Accepted: 23 Oct 2021
Published online: 10 May 2022 *

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