Fabrication of cesium-137 brachytherapy sources using vitrification technology.

137Cs source in solid matrix encapsulated in stainless-steel at MBq (mCi) levels are widely used as brachytherapy sources for the treatment of carcinoma of cervix uteri. This article describes the large-scale preparation of such sources. The process of fabrication includes vitrification of 137Cs-sodium borosilicate glass, its transformation into spheres of 5-6 mm diameter, casting of glass spheres into a cylinder of 1.5 mm (varphi) x 80 mm (l) in a platinum mould, cutting of the moulds into 5-mm-long pieces, silver coating on the sources, and finally, encapsulation in stainless steel capsules. Development of safety precautions used to trap 137Cs escaping during borosilicate glass preparation is also described. The leach rates of the radioactive sources prepared by the above technology were within permissible limits, and the sources could be used for encapsulation in stainless steel capsules and supplied for brachytherapy applications. This development was aimed at promoting the potential utility of 137Cs-brachytherapy sources in the country and reducing the user's reliance on imported sources. Since its development, more than 1000 such sources have been made by using 4.66 TBq(126 Ci) of 137Cs.

Studies on the preparation and stability of samarium-153 propylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonate (PDTMP) complex as a bone seeker.

Propylene diamine tetra methylene phosphonate (PDTMP) was synthesised by modifying a method reported for the synthesis of EDTMP. Complexation of the synthesised phosphonate ligand with 153Sm was carried out by varying the experimental parameters and the complex was radiochemically characterized. Biodistribution studies showed that the uptake by bone in rats was 2% per g of bone, which was retained upto 48 h. The uptake by other organs was insignificant, except by the liver which showed a slightly higher absorption.