Thin-target excitation functions and optimization of simultaneous production of NCA copper-64 and gallium-66,67 by deuteron induced nuclear reactions on a natural zinc target

摘要

Copper-64 is a radionuclide suitable for labeling of a wide range of radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging, as well as systemic or local radioirrununotherapy of tumors. Among the possible methods for cyclotron production of No Carrier Added (NCA) 64{sup left}Cu (61{sup left}Cu), we investigated the deuteron irradiation on natural Zn target, via (d,αxn) and (d,2pxn) nuclear reactions. This paper reports the preliminary results about the experimental determination and theoretical calculation of thin-target excitation functions in the energy range up to 19 MeV for 61{sup left}Cu, 64{sup left}Cu, 66{sup left}Ga, 67{sup left}Ga, 65{sup left}Zn and (69m) {sup left}Zn. A fast selective radiochemical separation of NCA 64{sup left}Cu from Zn target and Ga radionuclides, with quality control tests is described too.