A novel gallium-68 radioisotope generator

Objectives A Gallium-68(Ga-68) radioisotope generator includes a generating column and a citrate eluent. The generating column is at least partially filled with ion-exchange resin with glucamine groups to absorb Ge-68 and Ga-68 radioisotopes. The citrate eluent is conducted to the generating column to desorb the Ga-68 radioisotope and thereby generate an eluent containing the Ga-68 radioisotope in the form of citrate gallium. A Ga-68 radioisotope generating method is also disclosed.

Methods To achieve the above objective, a Ga-68 radioisotope generator in accordance with the present invention includes a generating column and a citrate eluent. The generating column is at least partially filled with an ion-exchange resin with glucamine groups to absorb Ge-68 radioisotope and Ga-68 radioisotope. The citrate eluent is added into the generating column to desorb the Ga-68 radioisotope and form an eluent containing the Ga-68 radioisotope in the form of Ga-68 citrate.

Results As shown in FIG.1, when the amount of the added citrate eluent is sufficient, such as 10 ml, the 0.1 or 0.2M citrate eluent (illustrated as the curves labeled with rhombuses and triangles respectively) or the 0.1 or 0.2M citrate eluent at specific pH value (pH 9, illustrated as the curves labeled with squares and crosses respectively) can perform a high level of the Ga-68 elutriation rate (at least close to 50%). Taking the 0.2M citrate eluent 10 ml as an example, its elutriation rate is 4.5×10^-3%. Oppositely, the elutriation rate of the Ga-68 radioisotope is up to 75.5%.

Conclusions In summary, a Ga-68 radioisotope generator and a method applied in the same in accordance with the present invention are characterized by the use of an organic resin (i.e. ion-exchange resin with glucamine groups) and its selective absorption for Ga-68 in comparison with Ge-68 to generate Ga-68 nuclide. The apparatus in accordance with the present invention is simple designed, easily operated and suitable for various hospitals and research institutes to provide the public better clinic diagnosis in the field of nuclear medicine and increase social welfare.