Biodistribution in rats and estimates of doses to humans from (64)CuCl2, a potential theranostic tracer.

The aim of this study was to obtain data on the biodistribution of (64)CuCl2 in rats and to obtain estimates of the radiation doses to humans by extrapolating the animal data. MicroPET imaging and biodistribution studies were carried out with Wistar rats, and the doses were estimated with OLINDA/EXM. The lower large intestine wall was found to be the critical organ with an absorbed dose of 139±34 and 125±32µGy/MBq for females and males, respectively. The corresponding effective doses were estimated as 47±4 and 39±4µSv/MBq.

A simple and efficient method of nickel electrodeposition for the cyclotron production of (64)Cu.

Nickel targets for the cyclotron production of (64)Cu were prepared by electrodeposition on a gold backing from nickel chloride solutions using boric acid as buffer. Parameters studied were nickel chloride and boric acid concentration, temperature and current density. All plating conditions studied were successful obtaining efficiencies of approximately 90% in 2-3 h, reaching almost quantitative plating (>97%) in 10-20 h depending on the current density. All plated targets withstood proton irradiations up to 40 µA for 2 h. Recovered nickel was successfully recycled and reused with an overall efficiency >95%.