Researchers Improve Production for Short-Lived Scandium Radioisotopes

Scandium radioisotopes are potentially useful for cancer therapy and medical imaging such as positron emission tomography (PET) scans, but the difficulty of producing sufficient amounts and purities of these isotopes limits their use. New research describes ways to make and irradiate accelerator targets for scandium to increase production and purity. The process recycles the calcium target material with more than 95% efficiency.

Tunable Bonds: A Step Towards Targeted At-211 Cancer Therapy

The astatine isotope astatine-211 (At-211) shows promise as a cancer therapy, but scientists know little about how it interacts with chemicals. Researchers have now discovered a new tunable bonding interaction between At-211 and a class of chemicals known as ketones. This discovery has the potential to improve cancer therapy drugs by linking At-211 to cancer targeting molecules.

Department of Energy to Provide $2 Million for Studies to Accelerate the Evaluation of Novel, Medically Relevant Isotopes for Use in Pre-clinical and Clinical Medical Trials

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $2 million in new funding to support translational research and development (R&D) of novel, medically relevant isotopes to accelerate evaluation for usage in pre-clinical and clinical trials.

Scientists Recruit New Atomic Heavyweights in Targeted Fight Against Cancer

Researchers from Berkeley Lab and Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed new methods for the large-scale production, purification, and use of the radioisotope cerium-134, which could serve as a PET imaging radiotracer for a highly targeted cancer treatment known as alpha-particle therapy.