Current status and future plan for the production of radioisotopes using HANARO Research Reactor

Abstract

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) completed the High-flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor (HANARO) in 1995 and the radioisotope production facilities(RIPF) in 1997. Many devices and handling tools were developed and applied for the production of radioisotopes. Emphasis on RI production plan was placed on the development of new radiopharmaceuticals, the development of new radiation sources for industrial use and the steady production of selected radioisotopes. The selected items are ¹⁶⁶Ho-based pharmaceuticals, fission ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators, and products of ¹³¹I and ¹⁹²Ir and ⁶⁰Co sources for industrial use. Now KAERI regularly produces radioisotopes (¹³¹I, ^99mTc, ¹⁶⁶Ho, ¹⁹²Ir, ⁶⁰Co etc.) and labeled compounds including ^99mTc cold kits. Newly developed therapeutic agents are a ¹⁶⁶Ho-chitosan complex for liver cancer treatment, a ¹⁶⁶Ho patch for skin cancer treatment and devices such as the stent and balloon for the prevention against restenosis of the coronary artery. Feasibility studies on the installation of a ^99mTc generator loading facility and on ⁶⁰Co production for food irradiation were finished. The ¹⁹²Ir sealed source assembly for NDT has been supplied to domestic users since May 2001. The fission moly process, separation process of non-sealed sources (¹²⁵I, ³³P, ⁸⁹Sr, ¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁸⁸Re) and fabrication process of sealed sources (¹⁶⁹Yb, ⁷⁵Se) are also under development. For the quality assurance of our final products, we obtained ISO certification in 2000. We are carrying out a feasibility study on a new research reactor for the stable supply of radioisotopes in Korea.