Prototype validation for an automated lutetium-177 processing system

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Lutetium-177 (Lu-177) is a sought-after medical isotope for treating a wide range of cancers. This isotope is currently produced at a handful of high flux nuclear reactors around the world by exposing the stable isotope Yb-176 to neutrons, and then chemically separating the Lu-177. Our group has developed a new process for separating Lu-177 that is more efficient than the industry standard. It can be used to process material from both high flux and medium flux reactors, which will expand and diversify the supply chain for this increasingly important medical isotope. It also generates less radioactive waste than the standard method. However, the new process is not compatible with clinical production environments, where chemical separations have to be automated to maintain quality standards and protect technicians from radiation exposure.The work proposed here will enable us to test a prototype that can be used for automated, hands-free, processing of Lu-177 using our new separation method. The prototype will be tested with low, intermediate, and high levels of Lu-177, which will be subjected to full quality testing each time to verify that it meets standards for clinical use. With these experiments completed, we can begin to deploy this technology to facilities around the world to increase the global supply of this isotope.