Preparation and evaluation of nano-crystalline titania as sorbent for ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator

ABSTRACT

In the presented work, nano-crystalline titania (TiO₂) was synthesized and evaluated as a novel chromatographic sorbent for the preparation of the medical ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator. TiO₂ was synthesized by dissolving TiCl₄.6H₂O with isopropyl alcohol to form a semisolid mass that was extensively dried and washed. The physicochemical parameters and surface area of the synthesized nano-crystalline TiO₂ were evaluated. TiO₂ was packed as a chromatographic column to study the sorption of ⁹⁹Mo-polymolybdate (VI) anionic solution by dynamic equilibrium. The maximum sorption capacity of ⁹⁹Mo was ~141±2mg Mo/g TiO₂, thereby confirming its suitability for using low specific activity ⁹⁹Mo for the preparation of ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator. The elution performance of the prepared ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator based on Ti-⁹⁹Mo was evaluated. It showed high radiochemical purity (≥ 97% TcO₄⁻), high radionuclidic purity (≥ 99.99%^99mTc) and high chemical purity; all of these specifications show the suitability for use in nuclear medicine applications.

KEYWORDS:

• Chromatographic column
• eluted Tc-99m
• nano-titania
• ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator