Development of a portable source for production of Re-188

Abstract

Rhenium 188 is a radioisotope that is potentially useful for treatment of certain types of cancer including bone cancer and circulating tumors. Its short half-life of 16.7h however makes it an awkward choice for clinical use as much of the product will decay during shipping. This project focuses on the development of a portable source of producing high specific activity Rhenium188 from a longer lived (t1/2 = 69.4d), low specific activity source; Tungsten 188. Tungsten 188 is obtained by double neutron capture from Na2186WO4. Peroxide complexes of the Sodium Tungstate (Na2186WO4) and Zirconyl Nitrate (ZrO(NO3)2) are formed and then mixed with heating to yield a ZrO186WO4•XH2O gel precipitate. This is loaded into a column and washed with saline. As the W-188 decays to Re-188, high specific activity Sodium Perrehnate (Na188ReO4) will be eluted from the column. This can then be reduced to form the final drug on location. Future studies may include a similar method of production for a Mo-99/Tc-99m generator, another drug commonly used for imaging. The final poster will also discuss crystalline content of the ZrO186WO4•XH2O gel, which must be minimized to maximize the yield of Re-188.