1) Radionuclide therapy
Production of new therapeutic radionuclides using accelerators

Radionuclides currently used for β-particle therapy are produced using nuclear reactors, and, in Japan, all of them are imported from other countries. Toward domestic supply of therapeutic radionuclides, we are conducting research to introduce new radionuclides for β-particle therapy that can be produced using accelerators.
We selected silver-111 (Ag-111) and cerium-141 (Ce-141) as candidates of new therapeutic radionuclides produced by accelerators. Ag-111 and Ce-141 are β⁻ emitters with half-lives of 7.45 d and 32.5 d, respectively. These nuclides also emit γ-rays which can be used for SPECT imaging.
Currently, we are investigating suitable conditions for production of Ag-111 and Ce-141 using accelerators and for chemical purification of produced Ag-111 and Ce-141 from target materials.