Radiochemistry &

Radiopharmacology
 01
Introduction
What is it?
Radiopharmacology
 Is the study of the preparation of
radiopharmaceuticals, which are radioactive
drugs used for diagnosis and therapy.

Radiochemistry
 Is the branch of chemistry concerned with
radioactive substances.
Radioactive Tracers
 Are used in imaging tests that help find problems
inside the body. These tracers give off particles
that can be detected and turned into a picture to
help find problems in organs or other structures. 
 A RADIOACTIVE TRACER
(Radiopharmaceutical) consists of a radioactive
isotope and tracer.
 02
How are
Radiopharmaceuticals
produced?
3 Methods of Radiopharmaceutical Production
RADIONUCLI NUCLEAR
DE REACTOR/FISSI
CYCLOTRON
GENERATOR ON
a machine that uses
Radionuclide generators The main job of a reactor electromagnetic fields to
are devices that “produce is to house and control propel charged particles to
a useful short-lived nuclear fission-process very high speeds and
medical radionuclide where atoms split and energies, used to produce
called daughter nuclide”. release energy. radioisotopes for a type of
- “Produces neutron- medical drugs called
rich radionuclides”. radiopharmaceuticals, which
diagnose and treat cancer.
- “Produces proton-rich
radionuclides”.
Cyclotron Nuclear Fission Radionuclide
Generator
 03
Radiopharmaceuticals used
in Nuclear Medicine
CHRONIUM (Cr-51)
How is it derived?

From the Greek word chroma, color. Chromium is a steel-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes
a high polish. Discovered in 1797 by the Frenchman Louis Nicolas Vauquelin.

What are its usage

It is used as a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical agent in nephrology to determine glomerular
filtration rate and in hematology to determine red blood cell volume or mass, study the red
blood cell survival time and evaluate blood loss.

How is it produced

Cr is produced in a reactor by neutron activation

COBALT (Co-60)
How is it derived?

The word cobalt is derived from the German kobalt, from kobold meaning "goblin", a
superstitious term used for the ore of cobalt by miners.

What are its usage

- Previous studies have shown the usefulness of divalent cobalt isotopes to visualize cerebral
damage after stroke. 
- Co-60 is used medically for radiation therapy as implants and as an external source of
radiation exposure. 

How is it produced

- Cobalt have been produced on small cyclotrons with high molar activity. 
GALLIUM (Ga-67)
How is it derived?

Lecoq de Boisbaudran named the element after France ('Gaul' in Latin) and also himself,
since Lecoq, which means 'the rooster' translates to 'Gallus' in Latin.

What are its usage

is a radiopharmaceutical agent used in the detection of the presence and extent of Hodgkin's
disease, lymphoma, and bronchogenic carcinoma, as well as some acute inflammatory
lesions.

How is it produced

Gallium-67 is produced in a cyclotron from the parent zinc-68.

INDIUM (In-111)
How is it derived?

The name comes from the Latin 'indicium', meaning violet or indigo.

What are its usage

useful in nuclear medicine and is used in the labeling of leukocytes for localization of
processes to which leukocytes migrate, such as those associated with abscesses or other
infections.

How is it produced

Indium-111 is produced in a cyclotron using a cadmium-112 target which is bombarded with

protons to produce indium-111 by the (p,2n) reaction. 
IODINE (I-131)
How is it derived?

The name is derived from the Greek 'iodes' meaning violet.

What are its usage

I-131 is used in medicine to diagnose and treat cancers of the thyroid gland.

How is it produced

I-131 is produced commercially for medical and industrial uses through nuclear fission.
TECHNETIUM (Tc-99)
How is it derived?

The name is derived from the Greek 'tekhnetos' meaning artificial. A vertical column in the
periodic table.

What are its usage

are used to detect a wide range of conditions including injuries, infections, tumours, heart
disease, thyroid abnormalities, kidney conditions and also to guide some cancer procedures.

How is it produced
Technetium was created by bombarding molybdenum atoms with deuterons that had been
accelerated by a device called a cyclotron.
THALLIUM (Tl-201)
How is it derived?

Thallium is derived from the Greek 'thallos', meaning a green twig

What are its usage

used in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and parathyroid hyperactivity.

How is it produced

it is produced in a cyclotron by bombarding thallium-203 with protons

XENON (Xe-133)
How is it derived?

The name is derived from the Greek 'xenos' meaning stranger.

What are its usage

is used to help diagnose lung problems and to help your doctor see an image of your lungs. It
is also used to help your doctor check the blood flow in your brain.

How is it produced
Xenon is obtained commercially as a by-product of the separation of air into oxygen and
nitrogen.
Thanks!