Process validation for production of copper radioisotopes in a TR-19 variable energy cyclotron

⁶⁴Cu is a cyclotron-produced radionuclide suitable for positron emission tomography (PET) and internal radiotherapy. We have been focused on ⁶⁴Cu radioisotope due to its favorable nuclear characteristics (β⁺ emission, 18% and β⁻ emission, 39%). Moreover, the electron capture (43%) implies Auger electron emission with high linear energy transfer in the targeted cells. Also, the 12.7 hours half-life allows a good uptake and distribution of the radiopharmaceuticals to obtain qualitative images with high contrast. The production of no-carrier-added ⁶⁴Cu via the ⁶⁴Ni(p,n)⁶⁴Cu nuclear reaction using a variable energy cyclotron (TR-19, ACSI, Canada) was studied in our work involving the implementation of a fully automated solid target irradiation and processing system. In this paper we report the validation of the process for the automated production and purification of ⁶⁴Cu produced in a variable energy (14-19 MeV) cyclotron, using a commercially available automated solid target system (ALCEO, Comecer S.p.A, Italy), comprising modules for electrodeposition, pneumatic transfer, irradiation unit, dissolving and purification. The obtained ⁶⁴CuCl₂ solution complies with the requirements of a radiopharmaceutical for medical applications. The process is to be translated for production of other copper radioisotopes of medical interest.