EP1453063A1 - Verfahren zum Herstellen von Actinium-225 - Google Patents

Verfahren zum Herstellen von Actinium-225 Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1453063A1
EP1453063A1 EP03100507A EP03100507A EP1453063A1 EP 1453063 A1 EP1453063 A1 EP 1453063A1 EP 03100507 A EP03100507 A EP 03100507A EP 03100507 A EP03100507 A EP 03100507A EP 1453063 A1 EP1453063 A1 EP 1453063A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
target
converting means
field
irradiating
laser beam
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Application number
EP03100507A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Joseph Magill
Jean Galy
Christos Apostolidis
Philippe Jehenson
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European Atomic Energy Community Euratom
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European Atomic Energy Community Euratom
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Publication date
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Priority to EP03100507A priority Critical patent/EP1453063A1/de
Publication of EP1453063A1 publication Critical patent/EP1453063A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21G—CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
    • G21G1/00—Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes
    • G21G1/04—Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes outside nuclear reactors or particle accelerators
    • G21G1/12—Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes outside nuclear reactors or particle accelerators by electromagnetic irradiation, e.g. with gamma or X-rays
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21G—CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
    • G21G1/00—Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes
    • G21G1/04—Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes outside nuclear reactors or particle accelerators
    • G21G1/10—Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes outside nuclear reactors or particle accelerators by bombardment with electrically charged particles

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a method for producing Acti n-ium-225.
  • Actinium-225 (Ac-225) and its daughter Bismuth-213 (Bi-213) is of great interest for cancer therapy, as they constitute preferred radionuclides for alpha-immunotherapy purposes. Indeed, to selectively irradiate cancer cells, alpha-immunotherapy uses alpha-emitters such as Bi-213 and possibly Ac-225 that are linked, through a bifunctional chelator, to monoclonal antibodies or peptides.
  • EP-A-0 962 942 discloses a method for producing Ac-225, which consists in irradiating a target containing Ra-226 with protons in a cyclotron, so that metastable radionuclei are transformed into Actinium by emitting neutrons. It is to be noted that this method allows to obtain the desired Ac-225, but also considerable quantities of other highly undesired radionuclides, especially Ac-224 and Ac-226. In order to eliminate these undesired radionuclides, the post-irradiation process is delayed since Ac-224 and Ac-226 present a relatively short half-life compared with Ac-225 (half-life 10 days). This waiting period however also leads to a considerable loss of Ac-225.
  • EP-A-0 962 942 proposes to irradiate a target of Ra-226 with protons having an incident energy of between 10 and 20 MeV, preferably of about 15 MeV.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an alternative method for producing Actinium-225. This object is achieved by a method as claimed in claim 1.
  • a method for producing actinium-225 comprises directing a high-intensity laser beam onto a converting means to produce an irradiating field and irradiating a target of radium-226 (Ra-226) in the irradiating field.
  • the present method uses a laser to produce the irradiating field that will induce the nuclear reactions in the Ra-226 target, which eliminates the need for a cyclotron.
  • the interaction of the high-intensity laser beam with the converting means allows the production of an irradiating field of photons or protons, depending on the laser intensity and the converting means.
  • the use of a laser beam to produce Ac-225 proves extremely advantageous over methods requiring a cyclotron, in terms of cost, size, operation and maintenance. So-called tabletop-lasers are very compact and can be installed in hospitals. This means in particular that hospitals or other radiotherapy treatment centers would be capable of managing their Ac-225 production themselves, without relying on a distant cyclotron facility.
  • Ra-226 is converted to Ra-225 through a photodisintegration reaction, where absorption of high-energy electromagnetic radiation in the form of gamma-ray photons ⁇ produced by the interaction of the laser with the converting means ⁇ causes a Ra-226 nucleus to eject a neutron, resulting in the formation of Ra-225.
  • This reaction is noted Ra-226( ⁇ , n)Ra-225.
  • Ac-225 is then obtained due to the natural decay process of Ra-225.
  • Ra-226 When the target of Ra-226 is irradiated in a proton field, Ra-226 is transformed into Ac-225 by emitting neutrons according to the nuclear reaction Ra-226(p, 2n)Ac-225.
  • the intensity of the laser beam used to produce the irradiating field by interaction with the converting means needs to be of sufficient energy so that the photons, respectively the protons, produced are of sufficient energy to drive the ( ⁇ , n) reaction, respectively the (p, 2n) reaction.
  • the intensity of the laser is of at least 10 19 W/cm 2 , more preferably about 10 20 W/cm 2 .
  • the laser intensity should preferably be sufficient to produce photons having an energy of at least 1 MeV, more preferably between 10 and 25 MeV.
  • the laser intensity should preferably be sufficient to produce protons having an energy between 10 and 20 MeV. More preferably, the protons in the irradiating field should have an energy of between 14 and 17 MeV, as this allows producing Ac-225 with high purity and yields.
  • the nature of the converting means on which the laser beam impinges is advantageously selected in function of the irradiating field to be produced.
  • the converting means preferably includes a piece or foil of a metal such as e.g. tungsten, tantalum, platinum or copper.
  • the converting means preferably includes a first part in the form of a Ta foil having a thickness of about 50 ⁇ m, and directly behind a second part in the form of a 1 mm thick Ta foil.
  • the laser beam is directed onto the first part where it produces a plasma.
  • the plasma electrons then impinge onto the second part, which serves as an efficient bremsstrahlung converter.
  • the converting means may simply consist of a Ta foil having a thickness in the range of e.g. 1.5 to 5 mm.
  • the converting means preferably takes the form of a foil or piece of a carbon and hydrogen containing material, onto which the laser beam impinges.
  • the target of Ra-226 is preferably prepared in the form of pellets, e.g. of RaCl 2 or RaCO 3 .
  • the pellets are then advantageously placed into a sealed capsule, preferably of Ag.
  • the capsule is preferably cooled by a cooling circuit during irradiation.
  • the present method preferably comprises a further step of separating the Ac-225 from the irradiated target material. This may be done by conventional chemical separation.
  • the present method allows ample production of Ac-225 with consistent radiochemical and radionuclidic purity. It is safe and dependable, and does not generate appreciable quantities of radioactive waste.
  • the present method allows production of Ac-225 from Ra-226 by means of a laser, which is clearly advantageous in terms of cost and flexibility of use with regard to conventional methods requiring a particle accelerator (e.g. a cyclotron).
  • a particle accelerator e.g. a cyclotron
  • the target nuclide used in these methods is Ra-226.
  • the target of Ra-226 is preferably in the form of RaCl 2 (radiumchloride), obtained from precipitation with concentrated HCl, or radium carbonate RaCO 3 . This material is then pressed into target pellets. Prior to irradiation, these pellets are advantageously heated to above 150°C in order to release crystal water therefrom before being sealed in a capsule made of silver.
  • a high-intensity laser beam 10 is focused onto a converting means generally indicated 12.
  • the angle of incidence of the laser beam 10 is preferably less than 45° in parallel polarization, as this geometry allows for high absorption of laser light into a plasma.
  • the converting means 12 itself preferably comprises two parts, more specifically two sheets 14, resp. 16, of tantalum with a thickness of 50 ⁇ m and 1 mm, respectively.
  • the second part 16 is placed behind the first part 14 (with regard to the incident laser beam).
  • a target of Ra-226, i.e. a capsule indicated 18 containing e.g. RaCl 2 pellets, is placed behind the second part 16.
  • the capsule 18 is preferably cooled by a closed water circuit with an alpha monitor (not shown) to detect any leakage of radon from the capsule.
  • a cooling circuit comprises e.g. a pump and a heat exchanger for extracting the heat produced by the irradiation in the capsule 18.
  • the incident laser beam 10 is preferably generated by means of a so-called tabletop laser.
  • Preferred laser parameters are the following:
  • the high-intensity laser beam 10 produces a relativistic plasma on the surface of the first part 14.
  • Plasma electrons are accelerated to relativistic energies within the intense laser field.
  • These fast electrons impinge on the second part 16, which serves as an efficient bremsstrahlung converter.
  • an irradiating field of high-energy bremsstrahlung photons is produced behind the second part 16 (schematically illustrated by ⁇ waves in Fig. 1), whereby the target of Ra-226 is irradiated with these bremsstrahlung photons.
  • photons having an energy of up to 30 MeV and more can be obtained.
  • Ra-226 is excited into a higher energy state by the absorption of a high-energy photon (denoted ⁇ ).
  • the excited nucleus then de-excites by the emission of a neutron (denoted n).
  • This reaction is a so-called photonuclear reaction that is written as: Ra-226( ⁇ , n)Ra-225.
  • the initial target of Ra-226 then consist of a mixture of Ra-226 and Ra-225 atoms. Subsequently to the irradiation, the radioactive Ra-225 atoms will decay to Ac-225 by a natural decay process in which a ⁇ - particle is emitted. The half-life of this process is 14.9 days. This process is denoted by: Ra-225 ⁇ Ac-225 + ⁇ - .
  • the method then advantageously comprises a separation step to separate Ac-225 from radium isotopes of the irradiated target material. Due to the above described decay process, this separation step is advantageously not carried out earlier than the fifteenth day following irradiation.
  • Ac-225 is preferably separated from the Radium isotopes in a chemical process.
  • the target material containing the mixed Ra and Ac isotopes are dissolved in acid and then treated in a conventional way to separate Ac from Ra, e.g. in ion exchangers.
  • Ra-225 and thus of Ac-225, that can be produced with the present method depends on the laser beam intensity but also on the laser repetition rate. It is expected that with the developments in laser technology that are being made, high-intensity laser systems with pulse repetition rates of up to 10 Hz and more, and with increase pulse energy, will soon be available. The present method will thus be even more interesting since it will allow considerable productivity improvements.
  • a high-intensity laser beam 40 is focused onto a converting means 42.
  • the angle of incidence of the laser beam 40 is preferably less than 45° in parallel polarization, as this geometry allows for high absorption of laser light into a plasma.
  • the converting means 42 preferably is a foil of carbon and hydrogen containing material, having e.g. a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 5 mm.
  • the target of Ra-226, i.e. a capsule 44 containing RaCl 2 pellets is preferably placed on the same side of the converting foil 42 on which the laser beam 40 impinges. During irradiation, the capsule 44 is advantageously cooled by a closed water circuit with an alpha monitor to detect any leakage of radon from the capsule.
  • the high-intensity laser beam interacts with the converting foil 42 in such a way that fast protons are produced. Hence, an irradiating field of high-energy protons is produced, whereby the target of Ra-226 is irradiated with these protons.
  • the induced reaction allows the direct transformation of Ra-226 into the desired product, i.e. Ac-225.
  • the laser beam intensity is preferably adjusted in such a way that the protons falling on the target of Ra-226 have an energy of between 10 and 20 MeV, more preferably between 14 and 17 MeV. This last energy range allows producing Ac-225 with high purity and yields.
  • the Ac-225 is then separated from the Radium isotopes. This may be done by a conventional chemical separation step as described in the above method.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Particle Accelerators (AREA)
EP03100507A 2003-02-28 2003-02-28 Verfahren zum Herstellen von Actinium-225 Withdrawn EP1453063A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03100507A EP1453063A1 (de) 2003-02-28 2003-02-28 Verfahren zum Herstellen von Actinium-225

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03100507A EP1453063A1 (de) 2003-02-28 2003-02-28 Verfahren zum Herstellen von Actinium-225

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EP1453063A1 true EP1453063A1 (de) 2004-09-01

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3008822A1 (fr) * 2013-07-22 2015-01-23 Ecole Polytech Creation d'isotopes par faisceaux laser
WO2016030365A1 (fr) * 2014-08-26 2016-03-03 Ecole Polytechnique Creation d'isotopes par reactions nucleaires en chaine
RU2644395C1 (ru) * 2016-12-30 2018-02-12 Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Национальный исследовательский Томский политехнический университет" Генератор для получения стерильных радиоизотопов

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0962942A1 (de) * 1998-06-02 1999-12-08 European Community Verfahren zur Erzeugung von Ac-225 durch Protonbestrahlung von Ra-226
WO2001041154A1 (en) * 1999-11-30 2001-06-07 Scott Schenter Method of producing actinium-225 and daughters
DE10037439A1 (de) * 2000-07-25 2002-02-07 Univ Schiller Jena Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Aktivierung der Radioaktivität von Atomkernen, insbesondere zur Aktivierung kurzlebiger radioaktiver Isotope für medizinische Zwecke
US20020172317A1 (en) * 2000-11-08 2002-11-21 Anatoly Maksimchuk Method and apparatus for high-energy generation and for inducing nuclear reactions

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0962942A1 (de) * 1998-06-02 1999-12-08 European Community Verfahren zur Erzeugung von Ac-225 durch Protonbestrahlung von Ra-226
WO2001041154A1 (en) * 1999-11-30 2001-06-07 Scott Schenter Method of producing actinium-225 and daughters
DE10037439A1 (de) * 2000-07-25 2002-02-07 Univ Schiller Jena Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Aktivierung der Radioaktivität von Atomkernen, insbesondere zur Aktivierung kurzlebiger radioaktiver Isotope für medizinische Zwecke
US20020172317A1 (en) * 2000-11-08 2002-11-21 Anatoly Maksimchuk Method and apparatus for high-energy generation and for inducing nuclear reactions

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3008822A1 (fr) * 2013-07-22 2015-01-23 Ecole Polytech Creation d'isotopes par faisceaux laser
WO2015011370A1 (fr) * 2013-07-22 2015-01-29 Ecole Polytechnique Creation d'isotopes par faisceaux laser
US10217538B2 (en) 2013-07-22 2019-02-26 Ecole Polytechnique Creation of isotopes using laser beams
WO2016030365A1 (fr) * 2014-08-26 2016-03-03 Ecole Polytechnique Creation d'isotopes par reactions nucleaires en chaine
FR3025354A1 (fr) * 2014-08-26 2016-03-04 Ecole Polytech Creation d'isotopes par reactions nucleaires en chaine
RU2644395C1 (ru) * 2016-12-30 2018-02-12 Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Национальный исследовательский Томский политехнический университет" Генератор для получения стерильных радиоизотопов

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