Radium-223 Separation

²²³Ra has been applied for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer which has spread to bone. The ²²³Ra is separated from the ²²⁷Ac/²²⁷Th parents. One separation method uses TRU resin to remove any ²³¹Pa impurity from ²²⁷Ac/²²⁷Th followed by immobilization of the Ac/Th on Actinide resin and elution of ²²³Ra with 1M HCl.[1]

Another separation method stores ²²⁷Ac in solution and separates ²²⁷Th using UTEVA resin and 227Ac using DGA resin, while ²²³Ra passes through both resins[2]. The ²²⁷Th and ²²⁷Ac are recovered for ingrowth and further ²²³Ra production. In both generator options, further purification using strong acid cation exchange or other method to ensure ²²³Ra with very low ²²⁷Ac and ²²⁷Th impurity.

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References:

[1] Henriksen, G.H., Hoff, P., Alstaad, J., Larsen, R.H., 2001. 223Ra for endoradiotherapuetic applications prepared from an immobilized 227Ac/227Th Source. Radiochim. Acta, 89, 661-666.

[2] Eichrom Application Note AN-1617, “227Th/223Ra Generator,” https://www.eichrom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/an-1617_th-227-ra-223-generator.pdf