Radiopharmaceuticals
LECTURER: JUNAYET HOSSAIN KHAN (JKH)
EMAIL: [email protected]
What is Radiopharmaceutical?
Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine
Radioactive Isotopes
Radioactive isotope:
▪ Isotopes of a particular element are a certain percentage of atoms
that have the same atomic number (same number of protons) but
different mass numbers (differing number of neutrons).
▪ Ex-carbon always contains about 1% of 13C and 99% of 12C
As a general rule-
▪ Those elements with even atomic numbers have more isotopes
than those with odd atomic numbers.
▪ -The heavier elements tend to have more isotopes than the lighter
elements.
Radioactive Isotopes
Two major isotopes
Two major types of isotopes are found in nature:
i) Stable isotopes- maintain their elemental integrity and
don't decompose to other isotopic or elemental form.
ii) Unstable or radioactive isotopes- decompose or decay by
emission of nuclear particles, into other isotopes of the same or different
elements.
Important Terms
Radioactive decay:
The spontaneous breaking down of the unstable
atom is termed as radioactive disintegration or decay.
Radioactivity:
The disintegration or decay of unstable atoms
accompanied by emission of radiation is called radioactivity.
Radioactive Half-life:
The time for half the radioactive nuclei in any sample to undergo
radioactive decay is the radioactive half-life.
After two half-lives, there will be one forth the original sample, after
three half-lives one eighth the original sample, and so forth. The unit of
half-life period is time-1.
Radioactive Decay
Radioactive Decay
Radioactive Decay
Radiopharmaceuticals
Imaging Equipment
How it works?
Imaging
Radiation is Dangerous – But…
tissues. For this reason, radioisotope therapy is
Application of Radionuclide
applied to those diseases in which extensive
cellular metabolic malfunction exists, like cancer.
Radioisotopes are used in medicines in two
different ways: i) Radiation source in therapy
ii) Radioactive tracers for diagnostic purposes
In therapeutic use of radioisotopes, the radiations
emitted produce destructive effects on existing Medical tracers Imaging
cells and prevent the formation of new cells and
Radionuclide Therapy
Theranostics
Targeted Radionuclide therapy
Targeted Radionuclide therapy – Alpha Therapy
Background Radiation
Radiation by Technologist
Radiation in Context
Some important radioisotopes used in medicine
Calcium (44Ca and 45Ca):
It is used to study bone structure and in the treatment of carcinoma
of bones.
Carbon (14C):
It is most widely used in various studies to detect reaction
mechanism, metabolism of carbohydrate and fats, drug
excretion, decomposition of pharmaceutical products.
Cobalt (60Co):
This agent emits beta and gamma rays and is used in therapy
where X-rays are used. It is used for the sterilization of surgical
materials and gamma rays are used to sterilized the dressings.
Some important radioisotopes used in medicine
Cyanocobalamin (57Co):
It is a cyanocobalamin containing 57Co. It is used in the diagnosis of
pernicious anemia.
Gold solution (198Au):
It is a cherry red, colloidal solution of radioactive gold (198Au), which is
sterilized by autoclaving. It emits beta particles and gamma rays. It is
used as neoplastic suppressant. It is also used in estimation of
reticuloendothelial activity.
Hydrogen (2H,3H):
Deuterium and tritium are useful to determine total body water.
Some important radioisotopes used in medicine
Iron (55Fe,59Fe):
Iron is used in the research studies related to the utilization and
absorption of iron salts. It is also used to measure the cell life span
of R.B.C.
Nitrogen (13N,15N):
It is useful in investigations of amino acids and protein metabolism and
also in the studies of nitrogen fixation by plants.
Sodium (22Na,24Na):
It is used for estimation of extracellular fluid, blood circulation rate, and
studies related to the cell permeability, excretion and distribution of water
etc.
Oxygen (17O,18O):
These are useful in studies of organic reactions and photosynthesis etc.
Some important radioisotopes used in medicine
Handling Radiopharmaceutical
