UNIT-V
Radioactivity:
The atoms of heavy element such as uranium and thorium unstable. In their nucleus the neutron
to proton ratio is high only nuclei which have same number of neutron and proton are stable. So
the nucleus of elements like uranium-235 throw ( or ) emits some particles like alpha particle and
beta particle and also some radiation like the gamma rays in order to attain the stability. This is
known as radioactivity
UNIT OF RADIOACTIVITY
1. CURIE
The unit of radioactivity is ‘curie’. Which is symbolised as ‘’C’’. It may be defined as
the quantity of any radioactive substance which undergoes the same number of
disintegrations in unit time.
1g of radium is equal to 3.7 X 1010 disintegration/ second. Millicurie( mc ) = 1 X 10-3
curie = 3.7 X 107 disintegration/ second. Microcurie ( µc ) = 1X10-6 curie = 3.7 X 104
disintegration/ second
2. Roentgen ( R)
It is the unit of exposure
1 R = 2.58 X 10-4 C Kg-1 ( C = a coulomb )
3. RAD
It is the unit of absorbed dose
1 RAD = 10-2 J Kg-1
Eg
Air – 0.87 RAD
Water-0.97 RAD
4. REM
It refers to the unit of dose equivalent.
5. Exposure rate constant
It refers to the does rate in roentgens/ hour at 1M distance from 1 Curie.
Pharmaceutical dosage forms may be described in terms of RAD units.
APPLICATIONS OF RADIO ISOTOPES
Radio isotopes find use in medicine in four different ways.
1. Radiation source in therapy
2. Radioactive tracers for diagnostic purpose
3. Research
4. Sterilisation
1) Radiation source in therapy
In therapeutic use of radioisotopes, the radiations emitted cause destructive effects on
existing cells and disallow the formation of new cells and tissue, due to this reason, the
radio isotope therapy has been applicable to those disease conditions in which extensive
cellular metabolic malfunction exists.
Eg.
1.Gold( 198AU) finds use in the treatment of abdominal and pleural effusions
associated with malignant tumors. It is given in the form of colloidal gold suspension.
198
AU also finds use in the treatment of carcinoma of uterus and urinary bladder.
2. Sodium phosphate ( 32p) finds use in the therapy of polycythemia vera to decrease
the rate of formation of erythrocytes leukemia.
3. cobalt labeled cyanocobalamins( vit.b12 ) finds use in the diagnosis of pernicious
anaemia.
2) Radio isotopes in diagnosis
i. Labelled cyanocobalamin finds use for measuring the glomerular filtration rate.
Ii.Ferric citrate (59Fe) injection finds use for the diagnosis of haematological disorders.
Iii.Colloidal gold (198AU) injection has been used for diagnostically studying the blood circulation in
the liver.
iv. Sodium iodide (131I) injection finds use for diagnose the functioning of thyroid gland.
3) Research
Excellent biological and medicinal studies have been carried out with radioactive isotopes as
tracers.
14
Eg 6C and H3 are most commonly used radio nuclides for this purpose.
4) Sterilisation
Excellent use is being made of the radiation constantly available from some strong radiation source
for sterilizing pharmaceuticals in their final packed containers and surgical instruments in hospital.
The radiation does not destroy or harm most pharmacetricals.
Thermolabile substances such as vitamins, hormones, antibiotics etc. Can be safely sterilised.
Eg. 27CO60 (or) Cesium-137 may be used for sterilizing surgical instruments.
HAZARDS AND PRECAUTIONS OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
➢ In order to have protection from hazards of radiation. Radioactive materials must be stored
in an area not frequently visited by people. Shielding may be required thick glass or
Perspex container usually provides sufficient shielding. The storage area must be regularly
checked for the radioactivity.
➢
If radioactive liquid has to be handled, it must be carried in trays having absorbent tissue
paper so that any spillage will get absorbed by paper. Rubber gloves have to be used when
working with radioactive liquids. Pipettes operated by mouth should never be employed.
PRECAUTIONS
➢ One should not touch radioactive emitter with hand but it should be handled by means
of forceps ( or ) suitable instruments.
➢ Smoking, eating, and drinking activities should not be done in the laboratory where
the radioactive materials are handled.
➢ Sufficient protective clothing ( or ) shielding have to be used while handling the
materials.
➢ Radioactive materials have to be stored in suitable labelled containers, shielded by lead
bricks and preferably in a remote corner.
➢ Areas where radioactive materials have been stored ( or ) used should be monitored that
is , tested for radioactivity regurarly.
➢ Disposal of radioactive materials should be carried out with great care.
RADIO- PHARMACEUTICALS
• These are more or less like pharmaceutical preparations ( solutions, injections etc., )
with all the usual controls for such preparations. But these are prepared by scientists
at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) at Mumbai and supplied to approved
hospitals and approved laboratories. They all have a radioactive isotope.
• A radioactive pharmaceutical preparation is named by one of these methods.
Eg.
Sodium radio-iodide injection ( or ) Sodium iodide-I131 capsules.
• The I.P does not includes any radioactive pharmaceutical preparation. B.P includes-
12 preparations, U.S.P includes -24 preparations.
Some important inorganic Radio Pharmaceuticals available from( BARC )
S.No Name of the product Radionuclide present Application
in it
1 Ammonium bromide inj Br-82 Extra cellular water
measurement
2 Calcium chloride solution Ca-45 Study of calcium
metals disorders
3 Colloidal Gold inj AU-198 Treatment of
cancers and study
of RES
4 Cyanocobalamin CO-57 ( OR ) CO-58 Diagnosis of
preparation pernicious anemia
5 Rubidium chloride inj Rb-86 Determination of
myocardial blood
flow
6 Sodium chloride inj Na-24 Study of sodium
exchange
7 Sodium iodide cap I-131 Study of thyroid
uptake
8 Sodium ortho phosphate sol P-32 Treatment of
polycythemia
Sodium Iodide ( I 131 ) Solution
Sodium iodide ( I131 ) solution is a solution which is suitable either for oral ( or )
intravenous administration, having radioactive. I131 which is processed in the form of
sodium iodide from the products of uranium fission ( or ) the neutron bombardment of
tellurium. Sodiumthiosulphate ( or ) other suitable reducing agent is also present.
Description:
It is a clear, colourless solution. It has a half-life of 8.06 days and emits beta
particles and gamma rays.
Test for Identity:
The gamma ray spectrum of this solution is compared with the gamma ray
spectrum of a standardized iodine-131 solution. There should be no significant
difference. Further the principle gamma proton has an energy of 0.36MeV.
PH:
7.5 – 9.0
Radiochemical Purity:
This test is meant to ensure that all the radioactivity is present only in the iodide ion
and not because of the presence of some other iodine containing compound such as
the iodate.
It is done by paper chromatography in this it should be proved that the
radioactive part of the paper chromatogram coincides with the position of the iodide
ion. It should also be proved that the position corresponding to the iodate ion has no
radioactivity.
Assay:
By using a suitable counter, the activity is compared with the activity of a
standardized iodine-131 solution. It should have the iodine-131 activity and specific
activity ac prescribed.
Use:
Used for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the thyroid gland.
