Extraction generator of 223Ra for nuclear medicine

A novel ²²⁷Ac/²²³Ra extraction generator for nuclear medicine was developed. Its operation is based on selective extraction of ²²³Ra with a solution of chlorinated cobalt dicarbollide and polyethylene glycol in a polar diluent from a solution of a mineral acid and a complexing agent. Radium is stripped to any appropriate aqueous solution on adding TBP into the extractant. Trials performed in the manual mode showed that ²²³Ra is efficiently separated from the parent isotopes ²²⁷Ac and ²²⁷Th (decontamination factor of ²²³Ra from ²²⁷Ac and ²²⁷Th >10⁶). It is the most convenient to use the ²²³Ra generator for the radionuclide production in a regional center, because it allows fairly simple production of large batches of ²²³Ra, avoiding problems associated with the need for skilled staff for working with the generator in a medical center and with the radiation-induced degradation of the matrix (ion-exchange resin).