The Metamorphosis of Radionuclide Production and Development at Paul Scherrer Institute

Authors

  • P. V. Grundler Center of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences PSI-USZ-ETH, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungstrasse 111, CH-5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland
  • R. Eichler Laboratory of Radiochemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungstrasse 111, CH-5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland
  • Z. Talip Center of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences PSI-USZ-ETH, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungstrasse 111, CH-5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland
  • P. A. Schubiger Center of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences PSI-USZ-ETH, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungstrasse 111, CH-5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
  • R. Schibli Center of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences PSI-USZ-ETH, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungstrasse 111, CH-5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
  • N. P. van der Meulen Center of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences PSI-USZ-ETH, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungstrasse 111, CH-5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland; Laboratory of Radiochemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungstrasse 111, CH-5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland;, Email: nick.vandermeulen@psi.ch

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2020.968

PMID:

33357290

Keywords:

History of science, Radiochemistry, Radionuclide development, Radionuclide production, Radiopharmacy

Abstract

Radionuclide production and development has a long history at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and dates back to the founding times of its forerunner institutions: the Federal Institute for Reactor Research and the Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research. The facilities used for this purpose have evolved substantially over the last five decades. Many radiometals in use today, as radiopharmaceuticals, are for the diagnosis and treatment of disease, with the most popular means of detection being Positron Emission Tomography. These positron emitters are easily produced at low proton energies using medical cyclotrons, however, developments at these facilities are lacking. Currently, the fixed 72 MeV proton beam at PSI is degraded at IP2 irradiation station to provide the desired energy to irradiate targets to produce the likes of 44Sc, 43Sc and 64Cu as a proof of principle, which are of great interest to the nuclear medicine community. This development work can then be implemented at facilities containing medical cyclotrons. A history of the development of radionuclides at PSI, along with current development and projects with partner institutions, is described.

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Published

2020-12-23

How to Cite

[1]
P. V. Grundler, R. Eichler, Z. Talip, P. A. Schubiger, R. Schibli, N. P. van der Meulen, Chimia 2020, 74, 968, DOI: 10.2533/chimia.2020.968.