Radiation Therapy & Targeted Tumors

Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry

Radiopharmaceuticals or medical radio compounds are groups of pharmaceutical drugs that can be used either for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. It is composed of a radioisotope bond to an organic molecule. The organic molecule conveys the radioisotope to specific organs, tissues or cells. The radioisotope is selected for its properties. Radioisotopes emitting penetrating gamma rays are used for diagnostic (imaging) where the radiation has to escape the body before being detected by a specific device (SPECT/PET cameras). Typically, the radiation emitted by isotope used for imaging vanishes completely after 1 day through radioactive decay and normal body excretion. The most common isotopes for imaging are: 99mTc, I-123, I-131, Tl201, In111 and F18.