Production of cyclotron produced radioisotopes in India

India is harnessing the benefits of peaceful use of nuclear energy for past over 50 years. In the health care, reactor produced radiopharmaceuticals are routinely produced and used by the nuclear medicine centers in the country. The need for radiopharmaceuticals formulated from cyclotron produced radioisotopes was felt quite sometime back. India's first medical cyclotron for production of PET radiopharmaceuticals was installed in Mumbai in the year 2002 by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. A few more similar (11-18 MeV) cyclotrons had been planned. After that three medical cyclotrons have become operational in India and five are in different stages of planning and construction including a 30 MeV cyclotron at Kolkata which is due to commence operation in early 2009. Out of the four PET cyclotrons which are operational in India, two are catering to the needs of the organization which house the cyclotron. The new 30 MeV Medical Cyclotron facility of the DAE coming up at Kolkata would be the first medium energy cyclotron in the country, primarily meant for routine production of SPECT radioisotopes like {sup 201}TI, {sup 67}Ga, {sup 123}1 and {sup 111}In to meet the demand of the entire nation. The facility would also produce the most important PET radioisotope i.e. {sup 18}F. The cyclotron is planned to be used for research in other fields simultaneously. This cyclotron being built by M/s Ion Beam Application (IBA), Belgium will be a 30 MeV (variable energy) proton machine and which will be able to deliver 500{mu}A beam (maximum). The machine would have dual beam capability. Therefore, it would be possible to produce two different radioisotopes simultaneously in two beam lines. There would be a total of five beam lines. Four beam lines would be in the ground floor while the fifth one is taken into the basement. Three beam lines would be used for radioisotope production and the other two beam lines would be used for various research and development programme of the DAE. The ground floor layout of the cyclotron and target vaults is shown. The facility would have state-of-the art processing equipment for production of the radiopharmaceuticals following guidelines of good manufacturing practice. Entire package of radioisotope production and processing equipment including radioactive waste handling systems and safety equipment would be supplied by M/s IBA, Belgium and M/s Comecer, Italy. Radiopharmaceuticals production and distribution would be done by a dedicated team associated with this project. In the first phase of the project three products, namely, [{sup 201}TI]Thallous chloride, [{sup 67}Ga]Gallium citrate and [{sup 18}F]Fluorodeoxyglucose would be produced. [{sup 201}TI]Thallous chloride and [{sup 67}Ga]Gallium citrate would be produced every week and distributed to the nuclear medicine centres in India. [{sup 18}F]Fluorodeoxy glucose would be produced daily and supplied to the nearby nuclear medicine centres. In addition to this, possibilities of exporting the SPECT radiopharmaceuticals to the neighbouring countries are being explored. Kolkata is located strategically in the eastern part of India. The facility will be well placed to supply cyclotron based radiopharmaceuticals to the entire south east Asia. Soon after the commissioning of the facility for production of above mentioned three radiopharmaceutical, it is being planned to start production of useful radio ,pharmaceuticals of {sup 123}I and {sup 111}In. Moreover, depending on the demand, radioisotopes like {sup 124}I,{sup 64}Cu,{sup 186}Re, {sup 68}Ge {sup 68}Ga (generator) etc. could also be produced. (author)