Technetium radiopharmacy

The major driving force for the development of technetium coordination chemistry has undoubtedly been the potential applications in diagnostic nuclear medicine. The primary requirements for a radionuclide to be used in imaging are that the radiation emitted must be of appropriate energy, the decay half-life must lie in a suitable time window, it must be relatively cheap and readily available in the radiopharmacy, and finally it must have highly flexible co-ordination chemistry. 

Nosco DL, Tofe AJ, Dunn TJ, Lyle LR et al (1989) New developments in radiopharmaceuticals at Mallinckrodt. In Nicolini M, Bandoli G, Mazzi U (eds) Technetium and rhenium in chemistry and nuclear medicine 3. Cortina International, Verona, Italy, pp 381-392 Nowotnik DP (1994) Physico-chemical concepts in the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals In Sampson CB (ed) Textbook of radiopharmacy theory and practice, second enlarged edition. Gordon and Breach, Reading... 

Molinski VJ (1982) A review of " Tc-generator technology. Int J Appl Radial Isot 33 811-820 Nordic Council on Medicines (1989) Nordic guidelines. Radiopharmacy - preparation and control of radiopharmaceuticals in hospitals. NLN Publication No. 26, Uppsala Ponto JA, Swanson DP, Freitas JE (1987) Clinical manifestations of radio-pharmaceutical formida-tion problems. In Hladik WB 111, Saha GB, Study KT (eds) Essentials of nuclear medicine science. Williams Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 270-274 Richards P (1966) Nuclide generators. In Radioactive pharmaceuticals. USAEC Symposimn Series, No. 6, (CONE-651 111). Oak Ridge, Tennessee, pp 155-163 Richards P, O Brien MJ (1969) Rapid determination of Mo in separated " Tc. J Nucl Med 10 517 Richards P, Tucker WD, Srivastava SC (1982) Technetium-99m an historical perspective. Int J Appl Radial Isot 33 793-800... 

Technetium-99m ( Tc) is widely used in radiopharmaceutical preparations due to its excellent physical and chemical properties. In fact, more than 80% of all radiopharmaceuticals used in diagnostic nuclear medicine are based on this short-lived radionuclide, which is obtained by elution of a Mo/ Tc generator system that is available in any radiopharmacy and nuclear medicine facility. 

Stathis VJ, Miller CM, Doerr GF, Coffey JL, Hladik WB (1983) Effect of technetium Tc-99m per-technetate on bacterial survival in solution. Am J Hosp Pharm 40 634-637 Wind K (1985) Sterility testing. In Cox PH (ed) Radiopharmacy and radiopharmacology, yearbook 1. Gordon and Breach, London, pp 35-46... 

Mallol J, Bonino C (1997) Comparison of radiochemical purity control methods for technetium radiopharmaceuticals used in hospital radiopharmacy. Nucl Med Com-mun 18 419-422... 

Jesus Mallol, Ph.D, September 1995 Comparison of radiochemical purity control methods for technetium radiopharmaceuticals used in hospital radiopharmacy. Sorin Bio-medica S.p.A., Radiopharmaceutical Development, Saluggia, Italy Martina Netter, M.Sc., 3-21 June 1996 Study of methods to enhance the stability of the " Tc-HM-PAO complex. Addenbrooke s Hospital, Cambridge, UK... 

Radiopharmacy is a discipline concerned with the preparation and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals. The term radiopharmacy is also used for the pharmacy where these activities are carried out Radiopharmaceuticals are medicinal products that contain radionuclides (radioactive isotopes). Radionuclides are produced in nuclear reactors or in cyclotrons. The most important radionuclides used in nuclear medicine are technetium and fluoride. 

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