Medical Isotope Production of Actinium 225 By Linear Accelerator Photon Irradiation of Radium 226
| dc.contributor.author | VanSant, Paul Daniel | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Pierson, Mark Alan | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Haghighat, Alireza | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Policke, Timothy A. | en |
| dc.contributor.department | Mechanical Engineering | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2014-12-05T07:00:14Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2014-12-05T07:00:14Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2013-06-12 | en |
| dc.description.abstract | There is a present and future need for the medical isotope Actinium-225, currently in short supply worldwide. Only a couple manufacturers produce it in very low quantities. In roughly the past 10 years the medical community has explored the use of Ac-225 and its daughter Bismuth-213 for targeting a number of differing cancers by way of Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT). This method utilizes the alpha-decay of both Ac-225 (half-life 10 days) and Bi-213 (half-life 46 min) to kill cancerous cells on a localized basis. Maximum energy is delivered to the cancer cells thereby greatly minimizing healthy tissue damage. This research proposes a production method using a high-energy photon spectrum (generated by a linear accelerator or LINAC) to irradiate a sample of Radium-226 (half-life 1600yrs). The photo-neutron reaction liberates neutrons from Ra-226 atoms leaving behind Radium-225 (half-life 14.7 days). Ra-225 decays naturally through beta emission to Ac-225. Previous research demonstrated it is possible to produce Ac-225 using a LINAC; however, very low yields resulted which questioned the feasibility of this production method. This research proposes a number of LINAC and radium sample modifications that could be greatly increase yield amounts for practical use. Additionally, photo-neutron cross-section data for Ra-226 was used, which led to improved yield calculations for Ra-225. A MATLABĀ® model was also created, which enables users to perform quick yield estimates given several key model parameter inputs. Obtaining a sufficient supply of radium material is also of critical importance to this research. Therefore information was gathered regarding availability and inventory of Radium-226. This production method would serve as a way to not only eliminate many hazardous radium sources destined for interim storage, but provide a substantial supply of Ac-225 for future cancer treatment. | en |
| dc.description.degree | Master of Science | en |
| dc.format.medium | ETD | en |
| dc.identifier.other | vt_gsexam:1093 | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10919/50984 | en |
| dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
| dc.rights | In Copyright | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | Radium-226 | en |
| dc.subject | Actinium-225 | en |
| dc.subject | Medical Isotopes | en |
| dc.subject | Linear Accelerator (LINAC) | en |
| dc.subject | Photonuclear Cross-section | en |
| dc.title | Medical Isotope Production of Actinium 225 By Linear Accelerator Photon Irradiation of Radium 226 | en |
| dc.type | Thesis | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Mechanical Engineering | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
| thesis.degree.level | masters | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science | en |
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