Semi-remote production of [64Cu]CuCl2 and preparation of high specific activity [64Cu]Cu-ATSM for PET studies

Abstract

Summary The PET radionuclide Cu-64 (t 1/2 = 12.7 h) can be easily produced utilizing the nuclear reaction 64Ni(p,n)64Cu. A high Cu-64 production rate was obtained using high-purity enriched nickel metal on the internal tangential target of the CS-30 cyclotron. Radio-copper was isolated after column chromatography using a semi-remote apparatus. Use of reagents with little or no carrier copper yields high specific activity Cu-64 pharmaceuticals prepared from the isolated [64Cu]CuCl2. [64Cu]Cu-ATSM was prepared in greater than 1.21±0.40 Ci/mmol (45±15 GBq/mmol) at EOB.