Speaker
Description
Gallium-68 is a positron-emitting radionuclide of growing importance in positron emission tomography (PET), particularly for imaging neuroendocrine tumors, prostate cancer and other malignancies. It possesses favorable decay properties (T₁/₂ = 67.7 min, β⁺ = 89%), enabling rapid synthesis and clinical application of 68Ga-labeled radiopharmaceuticals [1]. Its most common source is the long-lived parent nuclide Germanium-68 T₁/₂ = 270.95 d, which decays via electron capture to 68Ga, forming the basis of the 68Ge/68Ga generator system widely used in nuclear medicine facilities. Direct production of 68Ga in cyclotrons is achieved via reactions such as 68Zn(p,n)68Ga, 68Zn(d,2n)68Ga and 65Cu(α,n)68Ga [2]. Among these, the 68Zn(p,n)68Ga route is the most widely implemented in clinical practice, as it is compatible with low-energy medical cyclotrons and yields high-specific-activity product with optimized energy windows. Cyclotron production offers significantly higher yields, potential improvements in radionuclidic purity and scalability for centralized manufacturing. Furthermore, it reduces reliance on 68Ge supply chains and can be seamlessly integrated with automated synthesis modules for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant radiopharmaceutical production.
