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Colloquium | Physics

From Isotopes to Images: Production and Imaging of Atypical Radiometals at UAB

PHY Colloquium

Abstract: With the expansion of FDA approved 18F- and 68Ga- based agents for medical imaging using positron emission tomography (PET), research into the production of isotopes with varying half-lives, chemistry and decay characteristics is expanding. Using the UAB TR24 cyclotron, our group has focused on the development of reaction routes, target materials and the separation chemistry of isotopes to expand the toolbox of nuclear imaging agents. These have included transition metals such as 52Mn, 55Co, 89Zr, 43,47Sc and 45Ti. Additional research has developed chemistry to incorporate these isotopes into new imaging radiopharmaceuticals for preclinical or clinical research. In particular, our group has been exploring the use of 89Zr radiolabeled antibodies for imaging of cell surface receptor expression in preclinical models and in clinical trials of metastatic breast cancer patients. Recent work has also resulted in new radiochemistry techniques for the development of new 43,47Sc, 55Co and 45Ti radiopharmaceuticals for oncologic applications.