Radiopharmaceuticals

Radiopharmaceuticals can be divided into radioactive molecules or radionuclides that facilitate diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy. Before being used in the clinical setting, all commercially produced radiopharmaceuticals must be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Also, radiopharmaceuticals must possess various characteristics to be desirable for nuclear medicine applications. Radionuclide decay should be able to produce gamma emissions of suitable energy for diagnostic imaging. The ideal energy for a gamma camera is 100-200 keV, compared to 511 keV for positron emission tomography imaging.

Radiopharmaceuticals should not contain particle radiation, such as beta emissions, which can contribute to the patient’s radiation doses, even though beta emissions have therapeutic properties.

Furthermore, radionuclides should have an effective half-life for clinical applications. They should also be carrier-free and not contaminated with a stable radionuclide. If the specific activity changes, this can harm biodistribution and labelling efficiency.

Considering all the above, one of the best radionuclides for radiopharmaceuticals is technetium-99m, especially for gamma camera imaging. The radiopharmaceutical should rapidly localise in a specific part of the body according to the intended application. Background clearance should also be rapid to achieve reasonable target-to-background ratios.

Radiotherapy treatments involving the radionuclide attached to a vector (antibody) to deliver radioactivity to specific cells are called radioimmunotherapy. 

For example, the radiopharmaceutical iodine-131 tositumomab, yttrium-90 ibritumomab and yttrium-90 epratuzumab are used to treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Also, samarium-153 (Quadramet) is effective in relieving the pain of bone cancer and prostate and breast cancer.  The most used radioisotope for treating bone metastasis in the US is samarium-153 EDTMP (lexidronam).

The pure beta emitter yttrium-90 is used to relieve the pain of arthritis in larger synovial joints. Other radiopharmaceuticals include Iofetamine (I-123 iodoamphetamine), used for non-invasive evaluation of local cerebral blood flow in cerebrovascular accidents, and dysprosium, used as an aggregated hydroxide for synovectomy (removal of synovial tissue surrounding a joint ) treatment of arthritis.

You are here:
home » radiopharmaceuticals

brain scan using Pittsburgh Compound-B (PIB) PET imaging, highlighting amyloid plaques as bright spots within the brain
Nuclear Medicine Imaging

The Discovery and Development of Pittsburgh Compound-B (PIB): A Breakthrough in Alzheimer’s Disease Research

The Discovery and Development of Pittsburgh Compound-B (PIB): A Breakthrough in Alzheimer’s Disease ResearchBy | 7 minutes of reading

Pittsburgh Compound-B allows researchers to visualise amyloid plaques in the brain, aiding in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and study.

The Discovery and Development of Pittsburgh Compound-B (PIB): A Breakthrough in Alzheimer’s Disease Research Read Post »

, , ,
Hybrid scanners combining PET, CT, MRI, and SPECT enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve patient outcomes.
Medical Imaging Modalities

The Power of Hybrid Medical Scanners: Integrating PET, CT, MRI, and SPECT

The Power of Hybrid Medical Scanners: Integrating PET, CT, MRI, and SPECTBy | 7 minutes of reading

Hybrid medical scanners integrating PET, CT, MRI, and SPECT provide unparalleled anatomical and functional insights, enabling accurate diagnoses, enhanced treatment, and improved patient outcomes.

The Power of Hybrid Medical Scanners: Integrating PET, CT, MRI, and SPECT Read Post »

, ,
FDA-approved radiopharmaceuticals revolutionise diagnostics and targeted therapies, enhancing accuracy and effectiveness in disease detection and treatment.
FDA-Approved Radiopharmaceuticals

Yttrium-90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin): A Targeted Radioimmunotherapy Revolutionising the Treatment of Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Yttrium-90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin): A Targeted Radioimmunotherapy Revolutionising the Treatment of Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s LymphomaBy | 5 minutes of reading

Zevalin, combining monoclonal antibodies and radiation, offers hope against refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with targeted therapy.

Yttrium-90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin): A Targeted Radioimmunotherapy Revolutionising the Treatment of Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Read Post »

,
FDA-approved radiopharmaceuticals revolutionise diagnostics and targeted therapies, enhancing accuracy and effectiveness in disease detection and treatment.
FDA-Approved Radiopharmaceuticals

Utilising Technetium-99m Labelled Red Blood Cells (UltraTag) in Blood Pool Imaging and the Detection of Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Utilising Technetium-99m Labelled Red Blood Cells (UltraTag) in Blood Pool Imaging and the Detection of Gastrointestinal BleedingBy | 4 minutes of reading

Technetium-99m UltraTag RBCs enhance blood pool imaging and precisely localize gastrointestinal bleeding in non-invasive diagnostic procedures.

Utilising Technetium-99m Labelled Red Blood Cells (UltraTag) in Blood Pool Imaging and the Detection of Gastrointestinal Bleeding Read Post »

,
FDA-approved radiopharmaceuticals revolutionise diagnostics and targeted therapies, enhancing accuracy and effectiveness in disease detection and treatment.
FDA-Approved Radiopharmaceuticals

Iodine-131 Iobenguane (I-131 MIBG): A Radiopharmaceutical Powerhouse for Diagnosing and Treating Neuroendocrine Tumours

Iodine-131 Iobenguane (I-131 MIBG): A Radiopharmaceutical Powerhouse for Diagnosing and Treating Neuroendocrine TumoursBy | 3 minutes of reading

Iodine-131 Iobenguane (I-131 MIBG), a radiopharmaceutical agent, enables early diagnosis and targeted treatment of neuroendocrine tumours, improving patient outcomes.

Iodine-131 Iobenguane (I-131 MIBG): A Radiopharmaceutical Powerhouse for Diagnosing and Treating Neuroendocrine Tumours Read Post »

,
FDA-approved radiopharmaceuticals revolutionise diagnostics and targeted therapies, enhancing accuracy and effectiveness in disease detection and treatment.
FDA-Approved Radiopharmaceuticals

Copper-64 DOTATE: A Promising Radiopharmaceutical in Diagnostic Imaging and Targeted Therapy

Copper-64 DOTATE: A Promising Radiopharmaceutical in Diagnostic Imaging and Targeted TherapyBy | 2 minutes of reading

Copper-64 DOTATE, a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical, effectively targets neuroendocrine tumours, enabling precise imaging and personalised treatment plans for cancer patients.

Copper-64 DOTATE: A Promising Radiopharmaceutical in Diagnostic Imaging and Targeted Therapy Read Post »

, , ,
Scroll to Top