For the first time, China obtained gram-weight ytterbium-176 isotopes and made lutetium-177.
In December 2023, the Institute of Physical and Chemical Engineering of Nuclear Industry of China National Nuclear Corporation successfully produced high-abundance gram-level ytterbium-176 isotope products for the first time in the world using advanced technology, enabling China to have the production and preparation capacity of ytterbium-176 isotope targets for the first time, and getting rid of the long-term dependence on imports of ytterbium-176 isotope products. Recently, the product successfully passed the irradiation preparation of the CMRR reactor of the Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry of the China Academy of Engineering PhysicsGot 159CI's carrier-free lutetium-177 productAfter inspection, all the indicators are qualified, and the radioactive nuclear purity is greater than 999%, opening up a key link in the domestic nuclear drug industry chain.
Ytterbium-176 isotopes are mainly used as raw materials for the production of the radioisotope lutetium-177. Lutetium-177 is an ideal radiomedical isotopeThe emitted particles are very suitable as new radioimmune agents for diseases such as prostate cancer and breast cancerThe emitted Y rays are suitable for diagnostic imaging and radiological effect evaluation, and have a wide range of application prospects in medical clinics.
This technical achievement indicates that the ytterbium-176 isotope product produced by the CNNC research team using advanced technology fully meets the technical indicators of nuclear medicine productionThe independent and controllable Ytterbium-176 isotope materials in China have been realizedIt provides an important guarantee for the independent and controllable development of nuclear medicine, the breaking of monopoly of key nuclear medicine materials, and the entry into the international market. It is expected that the annual production capacity of ytterbium-176 isotopes in the order of 100 grams will be formed in 2025, which will contribute a strong impetus to the coordinated development of scientific and technological innovation and industrial renewal.
CNNC**.