Radiochemical aspects of alpha emitting radionuclides for medical application

The use of a-emitting radionuclides in targeted alpha therapy (TAT) holds great potential for treatment of human diseases, such as cancer, due to the short pathlength and high potency of the a particle, which can localize damage to targeted cells while minimizing effects to healthy surrounding tissues. In this review several potential a-emitting radionuclides having emission properties applicable to TAT are discussed from a radiochemical point of view. Overviews of production, radiochemical separation and chelation aspects relative to developing TAT radiopharmaceuticals are provided for the a-emitting radionuclides (and their generator systems) At-211, Ra-224/Pb-212/Bi-212, Ac-225/Bi-213, Th-227/Ra-223, U-230/Th-226, Tb-149 and Fm-255.