Production of an Isomeric State of 90Y by Fast Neutrons for Nuclear Diagnostics

概要

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90gY radiopharmaceuticals for cancer therapy have been used together with 111In radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostics, since a daughter nucleus of 90Sr, the ground state of 90Y, 90gY, is a pure $\beta$-ray emitting nucleus with no $\gamma$-ray emissions, providing no practical way for imaging. We have noted that the 682 keV isomeric state of 90Y, 90mY, with a half-life of 3.2 h as well as 90gY can be populated significantly by 90Zr(n,p)90Y and 93Nb(n,$\alpha$)90Y at a neutron energy of 14 MeV. On the basis of the result, we have proposed a new method to use 90Y radiopharmaceuticals containing 90mY for diagnostics and 90gY for therapy, since the isomeric state decays to the ground state of 90Y by emitting 480 and 203 keV $\gamma$-rays, appropriate energies for imaging. 90Y radiopharmaceuticals containing 90mY could solve long-standing problems associated with the use of 90gY together with 111In for imaging.
2009-11-15