Optimization of 99mTc proton-induced production by means of cross-section measurements of technetium radioisotopes from molybdenum targets
Abstract
99mTc [t1/2=6.0072 h, IT: 99.9963%, E_γ=140.51 keV (89%)] is the most widely used radionuclide for SPECT imaging. It is mainly obtained from 99Mo/99mTc generators, with 99Mo [t1/2=65.924 h, β−:100%] produced by fission of 235U in nuclear reactors. The aging of reactors dedicated to 99Mo production and increasingly frequent maintenance shutdowns highlight the need for alternative production routes. Among accelerator-based approaches, direct production of 99mTc from enriched 100Mo targets using low-energy proton beams is particularly promising. Within a collaboration between the Laboratory for High Energy Physics (LHEP) of the University of Bern and the Department of Nuclear and High Energy Physics of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, we investigated 99mTc production with medical cyclotrons. Cross sections of proton-induced reactions on solid molybdenum targets were measured to characterise the Tc radionuclides produced during irradiation and optimise production conditions. Based on these data, a proton energy of approximately 16 MeV and a highly enriched 100Mo target of about 0.5 mm thickness were identified as suitable conditions. For a 10 h irradiation, these parameters provide a calculated 99mTc yield of approximately 1.7 GBq/μA while maintaining radionuclidic purity within European Pharmacopoeia limits. Production tests were subsequently performed to validate the measurements and demonstrate the feasibility of this production route.
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BibTeX
@misc{gaia2026optimization,
title = {{Optimization of 99mTc proton-induced production by means of cross-section measurements of technetium radioisotopes from molybdenum targets}},
author = {Dellepiane Gaia and D'Uva Sofia and Eggimann Lars and Gottstein Alexander and Juillerat Samuel and Kasanda Eva and Mateu Isidre and Scampoli Paola and Kadenko Ihor and Braccini Saverio},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.36949},
eprint = {2610.36949},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.36949},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Optimization of 99mTc proton-induced production by means of cross-section measurements of technetium radioisotopes from molybdenum targets
AU - Dellepiane Gaia
AU - D'Uva Sofia
AU - Eggimann Lars
AU - Gottstein Alexander
AU - Juillerat Samuel
AU - Kasanda Eva
AU - Mateu Isidre
AU - Scampoli Paola
AU - Kadenko Ihor
AU - Braccini Saverio
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.36949
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.36949
AB - ^99mTc [t_1/2=6.0072 h, IT: 99.9963%, E_γ=140.51 keV (89%)] is the most widely used radionuclide for SPECT imaging. It is mainly obtained from ^99Mo/^99mTc generators, with ^99Mo [t_1/2=65.924 h, β^−:100%] produced by fission of ^235U in nuclear reactors. The aging of reactors dedicated to ^99Mo production and increasingly frequent maintenance shutdowns highlight the need for alternative production routes. Among accelerator-based approaches, direct production of ^99mTc from enriched ^100Mo targets using low-energy proton beams is particularly promising. Within a collaboration between the Laboratory for High Energy Physics (LHEP) of the University of Bern and the Department of Nuclear and High Energy Physics of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, we investigated ^99mTc production with medical cyclotrons. Cross sections of proton-induced reactions on solid molybdenum targets were measured to characterise the Tc radionuclides produced during irradiation and optimise production conditions. Based on these data, a proton energy of approximately 16 MeV and a highly enriched ^100Mo target of about 0.5 mm thickness were identified as suitable conditions. For a 10 h irradiation, these parameters provide a calculated ^99mTc yield of approximately 1.7 GBq/μA while maintaining radionuclidic purity within European Pharmacopoeia limits. Production tests were subsequently performed to validate the measurements and demonstrate the feasibility of this production route.
ER -