This document summarizes key aspects of radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine. It describes what radiopharmaceuticals are and their main components. It also discusses common equipment used like generators, dose calibrators and contamination monitors. Different types of cold kits are presented for preparing radiotracers like Tc-99m MDP for bone scans, Tc-99m DTPA for renal imaging, and Tc-99m sulfur colloid for liver scans. Ideal properties of radiopharmaceuticals are outlined as well as references for further reading.

1. RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
Alan Mathew
3rd year BSc MIT
Moderator : Omkar Gaonkar
10/10/2022

2. CONTENTS
• RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
• EQUIPMENTS
• TRACER COMPARTMENTS ANDTRANSPORT
• COLD KITS
• TYPES &PREPARATION OFTECHENTIUM KITS
• IDEAL RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL
• REFERENCES

3. RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
• Radiopharmaceuticals is radioactive compound used for
the diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of human
disease.
• Also known as tracers or radiotracers.
• Radiopharmaceuticals are sterile and nonpyrogenic and
can be administered safely to humans.
• A radiopharmaceutical has two components:
o Radionuclide
o Pharmaceutical

4. EQUIPMENTS
• Generators
• Dose calibrator
• Contamination monitor
• Fume hoods
• Centrifuge
• L bench

5. GENERATORS
• Radionuclide generators are a source of radionuclides to
produce radiopharmaceuticals.
• The most widely used radionuclide generator in
radiopharmacy is 99Mo-99mTc generator.
• Maximum build up of 99mTc activity occurs at 23 hours after
elution.
• There are two basic types of generator with respect to
elution
o Wet system
o Dry System

6. DRY GENERATOR
• A specific amount of saline in a vials placed
in the generation entry port and drawn
across by vacuum.
WET GENERATOR
• Has a saline reservoir and a vacuum vail that
draws saline across the column.

7. DOSE CALIBRATOR
• A well-type ionization chamber capable of measuring
quantities in the milli curie range.
• The chamber is cylindrical and holds a defined volume of inert
gas ( usually Argon).
• Within the chamber is a collecting electrode.
• An electrical differential between the chamber and the
collecting electrodes causes ions to be captured and
measured

8. CONTAMINATION MONITOR
• Used to detect small amount of radioactive
contamination.
• The detectors are usually cylindrical in shape.
• This detectors are gas filled and has high applied
voltage from anode to cathode.

9. FUME HOODS
• One of the most important design feature of a chemical fume
hood is the entry and used to promote a smooth flow of air into
the hood.
• Protect the user from inhaling toxic gases.
• Protect the product or experiment.
• Protect the working environment.

10. CENTRIFUGE
• A device that applies sustained centrifugal
force for separating substances of different
densities
• Every centrifuge contains a spinning vessel;
there are many configurations, depending on
use.

11. L BENCH
oStandard “L” Shield
• The L bench shield has been designed ,keeping in
mind the user protection.
• “L” Blocks provide effective radiation protection
without a larger cost.
oFEATURES
• 4.8 g/cm3 Density Lead
• The shields are painted with high gloss epoxy paint
for easy cleaning

12. TRACER COMPARTMENTS ANDTRANSPORT
• Tracer is a substance that follows a physiologic or
biochemical process.
• A compartment is a volume or space within which
the tracer rapidly becomes uniformly distributed
• Specific requirements for an ideal tracer
i. Behavior of tracer should be identical to the
physiological process
ii. Mass of tracer should not alter the physiological
process being studied

13. TRANSPORT
• Two mechanism exist for the transport of substances across a membrane or
capillary wall
1. Active transport
2. Passive transport
ACTIVE TRANSPORT – Energy requires to move substances against
concentration gradient.
PASSIVE TRANSPORT – Transport of molecules across the membrane
through a concentration gradient without use of cellular energy

14. COLD KITS
• Cold kits have been developed to produce quality radiopharmaceuticals at
the site of use when mixed with the requisite amount of a radioisotope.
• The kits are prepared in a freeze-dried form and have a long shelf life ,
ranging from several months to years .
• Storage in a refrigerator at 2-8°C

15. COMPONENTS OF COLD KIT
• A cold kit contains
• Ligand (organ specific)
• Reducing agent (stannous salt)
• Buffer (NaOH/ HCl)
• Stabilizing agents(ascorbic acid)

16. ADVANTAGES OF COLD KITS
• Rapid and easy preparation of the product .
• Low radiation hazard to the operator.
• Sterile product
• Stable and diagnostically effective product .
• Readily available

17. TYPES &PREPARATION
OFTECHENTIUM KITS

18. METHYLENE DIPHOSPHONIC ACID (MDP)
USE: BONE SCAN
PREPARATION:
• Tc-99m MDP can be prepared from a simple kit.
• Tc-99m, in the form of sodium pertechnatate (NaTcO4), is injected into a vial
containing MDP, stabilizers, and stannous ion.
• Stannous ion acts as a reducing agent, allowing the Tc-99m to form a bond
with the MDP carrier molecule.
• Adjust the pH to between 5 and 7 using NaOH or HCl.
• Allow it to stand for 10 min
STORAGE: Store refrigerated at 2–8ºC
KIT FOR 99mTc-MDP

19. KIT FOR 99mTc- DTPA
DTPA (DIETHYLENETRIAMINE PENTAACETATE)
USE: FOR RENAL AND BRAIN SCINTIGRAPHY
PREPARATION:
• Each vial contain – 35 mg of DTPA & 2 mg of stannous chloride
• Add 2-3 ml Na 99mTcO4 , 0.9% NaCl
• Mix the contents & keep the vial in Boiling water bath-5 min
• Remove the vial & allow it to cool for 10 min
• Control the pH at between 4 and 5 using NaOH or HCl.
STORAGE : kit – 2-10º C

20. KIT FOR 99mTc -DMSA
DIMERCAPTO SUCCINIC ACID
USE: FOR RENAL CORTICAL SCANS
PREPARTION:
Component A – 1 mg of DMSA & 0.3 mg stannous chloride
Component B – 35 mg of NaHCO3
Allow the componentA vial to attain ambient temp
Withdraw the required Na 99mTcO4 injection in a sterile syringe
Add 1 ml of water in the component B vial & mix the contents
Transfer the contents into the vial A , Immediately transfer the Na 99m TcO4 in to
the vial –A
Mix the contents of the vial & allow it to stand for 10 min Storage

21. KIT FOR [Tc]-BRIDA
BROMO-IMINODIACETIC ACID[Tc]-BRIDA
USE: STUDY OF LIVER &GALLBLADDER
PREPARTION:
• 20–30 mCi of TcO4 prepared in 1 ml of 0.9% saline
and introduced into the BRIDA kit
• Shaken and kept at room temperature for 30 min.
• The pH of the reconstituted product is 4.2 to 5.7
STORAGE : 2-80C

22. KIT FOR 99M- SULPHUR COLLOID
SULPHUR COLLOID
USE: LIVER SCAN
Component A : 0.5 ml solution of HCL
Component B : 1 ml solution of gelatine thiosulphate
Component C : 1 ml solution of the phosphate buffer
STORAGE: Room temperature

23. PREPARTION:
 Add 2-3 ml Na 99mTcO4 , 0.9% Of Nacl to componentA vial
 Now transfer 0.5 ml of the component B to the component A
 Boiling water bath for 3-5 min & allow it to cool
 Now transfer 0.5 ml of the component C to the component A
 Preparation is ready for use
Expiry immediately after the preparation

24. IDEAL RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL
• Easily availability.
• Short effective half –life.
• Particle emission.
• High target to non target activity ratio.
• Nontoxic and contain no chemical or radionuclide
contamination.

25. SHORT EFFECTIVE HALF-LIFE
• Time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to
half its original value.
• Physical half-life is independent of any physiochemical condition.
• Radiopharmaceuticals administered to humans, excretion from
the biological system through fecal or urinary excretion, or other
mechanisms.
• Radiopharmaceuticals should be:
o Easily produced
o Inexpensive
o Readily available

26. HIGHTARGETTO NONTARGET RATIO
• It is desirable that the radiopharmaceutical should be
localized in the organ.
• Since the activity from the non target areas can obscure the
structural details of the target organ.
• The target to non target ratio should be large.

27. TYPE OF SCAN RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL
Bone Scan MDP
FOR RENAL AND BRAIN
SCINTIGRAPHY
DTPA
FOR RENAL CORTICAL SCANS DMSA
STUDY OF LIVER
&GALLBLADDER
[Tc]-BRIDA
LIVER SCAN SULPHUR COLLOID
THYROID SCAN TC 99M

28. REFERENCES
Nuclear medicine
Author: Harney A Zeistmen & James HThrall
Physics in nuclear medicine
Author: Simon R Cherry