Elucidating the coordination chemistry of the radium ion for targeted alpha therapy.

The coordination chemistry of Ra is poorly defined, hampering efforts to design effective chelators for Ra-based targeted alpha therapy. Here, we report the complexation thermodynamics of Ra with the biomedically-relevant chelators DOTA and macropa. Our work reveals the highest affinity chelator to date for Ra and advances our understanding of key factors underlying complex stability and selectivity for this underexplored ion.

Nuclear data for reactor production of Ba and Ba.

The newest radioisotope for brachytherapy treatment of prostate cancer is Cs (t = 9.69 d, 100% EC). Generated via electron capture decay of Ba (t = 11.

Measurement of neutron capture cross section of W for production of W.

Tungsten-188 (t = 69.4 d) is routinely produced by double neutron capture using highly enriched W target, W(n,γ)W(n,γ)W reaction, at the ORNL 85 MWt High Flux Isotope Reactor. While the thermal neutron cross section for the first reaction, W(n,γ)W, is well known, the single reported 64 b cross-section for the second reaction, W(n,γ)W, cannot be validated by experimental results that yield lower than expected activities of W.

Reactor production of promethium-147.

In this paper, we describe the Pm production yields and level of impurities from several targets that consisted of milligram quantities of highly enriched Nd oxide irradiated at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for durations ranging from 24 to 180 h. A comparison between theoretical and experimental data are also presented, and attempts were made to empirically evaluate the neutron capture cross-sections of 41.3-d Pm and 5.

Radiometric evaluation of diglycolamide resins for the chromatographic separation of actinium from fission product lanthanides.

Actinium-225 is a potential Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT) isotope. It can be generated with high energy (≥ 100MeV) proton irradiation of thorium targets. The main challenge in the chemical recovery of Ac lies in the separation from thorium and many fission by-products most importantly radiolanthanides.

Simultaneous Separation of Actinium and Radium Isotopes from a Proton Irradiated Thorium Matrix.

A new method has been developed for the isolation of Ra, in high yield and purity, from a proton irradiated Th matrix. Herein we report an all-aqueous process using multiple solid-supported adsorption steps including a citrate chelation method developed to remove >99.9% of the barium contaminants by activity from the final radium product.