An electroamalgamation approach to separate ⁴⁷Sc from neutron-activated ⁴⁶Ca target for use in cancer theranostics

ABSTRACT

Scandium-47 [T_½ = 3.35 d, E_β-(max.) = 600 keV, Eγ = 159 keV] is a relatively new radioisotope that holds tremendous potential for use in cancer theranostics. The radioisotope was produced by thermal neutron irradiation of enriched ⁴⁶Ca producing ⁴⁷Ca, which decays by β⁻ emission to ⁴⁷Sc. A viable method based on the selective electroamalgamation of Ca²⁺ ions has been developed for the clinical-scale separation of ⁴⁷Sc from ⁴⁷Ca. The overall yield of ⁴⁷Sc after the separation process was >80% and it was obtained with >99.9% radionuclidic purity in a form suitable for radiopharmaceutical preparation. This strategy holds promise for future clinical translation of this radioisotope.

KEYWORDS:

• ⁴⁷Sc
• ⁴⁷Sc-DOTA-TATE
• cancer
• electroamalgamation
• radiochemical separation
• theranostics