Radiochemical Investigations for Radiopharmaceutical Nuclear Medicine at JINR Laboratory of Nuclear Problems

• Published in: Physics of particles and nuclei Vol. 54; no. 2; pp. 321 - 363
• Main Authors: Filosofov, D. V., Baimukhanova, A. E., Kurakina, E. S., Karaivanov, D. V., Velichkov, A. I., Radchenko, V. I., Yakushev, E. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01-04-2023
• Subjects: Particle and Nuclear Physics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy
• ISSN: 1063-7796; 1531-8559
• DOI: 10.1134/S106377962302003X

In recent years, radiopharmaceuticals have been increasingly used for diagnostics and treatment of cancer. In addition to a biological vector, a modern radiopharmaceutical includes a chelator that binds the radionuclide, as well as a linker for connecting the vector and the chelator. The development of such an approach requires the improvement of methods for obtaining and purifying radionuclides, and the development of methods for the synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals, i.e., preparative direction. It is also necessary to search for new vectors and chelators. This implies the development of methods for analyzing the properties of radiopharmaceuticals in general, as well as their precursors, i.e., analytical direction. In this review, we describe the prerequisites for successfully solving a wide range of challenges in these two areas of nuclear medicine at the Scientific and Experimental Department of Nuclear Spectroscopy and Radiochemistry of the Laboratory of Nuclear Problems of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (LNP JINR). These prerequisites are due to rich experience in obtaining the widest range of radionuclides and their application for various spectrometric studies. Both the past and present works on radiopharmaceutical topics carried out in the department are described, and ways of future development are outlined.