Speaker
Description
Several alpha-emitting radioisotopes, Ac-225, Ra-223, and Th-227, can be produced from natural thorium targets, primarily through nuclear reactions induced by a high-energy proton irradiation. These isotopes are of interest for targeted alpha therapy, a cancer treatment approach that utilizes the high energy of alpha particles to destroy cancer cells selectively. Ac-225 radioisotope decays into Bi-209 by emitting 4 alpha and 2 beta particles with a half-life of 9.9 days, which is appropriate for medical applications. In this work, we have tried to produce Ac-225, which is an alpha particle emitting radioisotope by irradiation of Th-232 target with protons in the energy range of 50-70 MeV with RAON cyclotron. Investigating a practical method helps us identify production routes with increased yields. Therefore the present study will be helpful in identifying more effective production methods including chemical separation. Additionally, simulations and numerical calculations of the beam conditions to maximize production yield will be presented. Corresponding to the target thickness of 3 mm, the 70 MeV proton energy is degraded to 50 MeV, while maintaining energy above the threshold. Beam currents about 100 uA irradiated for two days is theoretically estimated in typical actinium-225 yields of 100 mCi, which will be applied to preclinical evaluation of radiopharmaceuticals. In this talk, a brief research activity of ISOL system with 70 MeV cyclotron at IRIS will be presented.
Funding Agency
This work was supported by INNOPOLIS grant funded (RS-2025-13632970) and by National Research Foundation (NRF) grant (TOPTIER, RS-2024-00436392) by the Korea government of Ministry of Science and ICT.
