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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Molecules

Radionuclidic Impurity Pathways in Cyclotron Production: Insights from 18F and Emerging Theranostic Radionuclides

  • Teresa Jakubowska1,2
  • Magdalena Długosz-Lisiecka3
  • Jarosław Jankowski4
  • Michał Biegała1,2
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Medical Imaging Technology, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Lindleya 6, 90-131 Łódź, Poland
  2. 2Department of Medical Physics, Copernicus Memorial Hospital in Lodz Comprehensive Cancer Center and Traumatology, Pabianicka 62, 93-513 Łódź, Poland
  3. 3Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Wróblewskiego 15, 90-924 Łódź, Poland
  4. 4Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Regional Specialist Hospital in Olsztyn, Żołnierska 18, 10-561 Olsztyn, Poland
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Abstract

(1) Cyclotron production of medical radionuclides can generate unintended radionuclidic impurities, influencing product quality, radiation safety, and radioactive waste management. This review aims to establish a general mechanistic framework for the formation, transfer, and control of such impurities. (2) We identified published data on theranostic radionuclides, liquid- and solid-target production, 18F-associated impurities, and activation products through a Scopus search and reference screening. A total of 147 publications were qualitatively synthesized. (3) Production of 18F from H218O served as a reference model for tracing impurity pathways from irradiation through transfer, purification, radiosynthesis, and waste management. Three principal sources can be distinguished: competing nuclear reactions involving the target isotope and residual isotopes; reactions involving other target-matrix constituents; and activation of target windows, bodies, and auxiliary materials. Impurity fate depends on release from the formation site, transfer into the processing stream, and retention or removal during purification and radiosynthesis. (4) The 18F model demonstrates that all of these stages should be considered when designing and validating new cyclotron-production routes. Co-produced isotopes of the product element require predominantly upstream control, whereas chemically distinct radionuclides can often be separated but are redistributed within the manufacturing system.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{jakubowska2026radionuclidic,
  title = {{Radionuclidic Impurity Pathways in Cyclotron Production: Insights from 18F and Emerging Theranostic Radionuclides}},
  author = {Teresa Jakubowska and Magdalena Długosz-Lisiecka and Jarosław Jankowski and Michał Biegała},
  journal = {Molecules},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.3390/molecules31213987},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3987},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Radionuclidic Impurity Pathways in Cyclotron Production: Insights from 18F and Emerging Theranostic Radionuclides
AU  - Teresa Jakubowska
AU  - Magdalena Długosz-Lisiecka
AU  - Jarosław Jankowski
AU  - Michał Biegała
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/05
JO  - Molecules
DO  - 10.3390/molecules31213987
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3987
AB  - (1) Cyclotron production of medical radionuclides can generate unintended radionuclidic impurities, influencing product quality, radiation safety, and radioactive waste management. This review aims to establish a general mechanistic framework for the formation, transfer, and control of such impurities. (2) We identified published data on theranostic radionuclides, liquid- and solid-target production, 18F-associated impurities, and activation products through a Scopus search and reference screening. A total of 147 publications were qualitatively synthesized. (3) Production of 18F from H218O served as a reference model for tracing impurity pathways from irradiation through transfer, purification, radiosynthesis, and waste management. Three principal sources can be distinguished: competing nuclear reactions involving the target isotope and residual isotopes; reactions involving other target-matrix constituents; and activation of target windows, bodies, and auxiliary materials. Impurity fate depends on release from the formation site, transfer into the processing stream, and retention or removal during purification and radiosynthesis. (4) The 18F model demonstrates that all of these stages should be considered when designing and validating new cyclotron-production routes. Co-produced isotopes of the product element require predominantly upstream control, whereas chemically distinct radionuclides can often be separated but are redistributed within the manufacturing system.
SN  - 1420-3049
ER  -