Cyclotron 99mTc Production and Quality Control for Medical Applications

Abstract

A new production method of ^99mTc using a high-current solid target was tested. The separation and purification setup was developed to produce high quantity and high specific activity of ^99mTcO₄⁻ suitable for labeling various ligands for nuclear medicine imaging. A semiautomated target dissolution and separation system has been developed for ^99mTcO₄⁻ production. The separation is based on a chromatographic column system. The chemical and radiochemical purity was found to be in accordance with the US and European Pharmacopoeia specifications. 99% of activity in the final product belonged to ^99mTc. Less than 1% of the ^99mTc activity was not incorporated in the target product with MDP kits. Biodistribution data for the labeled MDP kits show that the quality of the produced ^99mTc-pertechnetate is identical to that of the pertechnetate from ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators. The application of ^99mTc-ethylenedicysteine in human proves the good quality of the produced Na^99mTcO₄.