Chitosan-TiO2 composite: A potential 68Ge/68Ga generator column material.

ABSTRACT

A durable and ready to use 68Ge-68Ga generator column material is required for its routine use in radiopharmaceutical procedures. The present work comprises preliminary studies for development and evaluation of chitosan-TiO2 based microsphere (C-TOM) composite towards its competence as a column material. The batch uptake studies showed higher distribution coefficients for 68Ge vis-à-vis 68Ga in the complete concentration range of HCl examined (0.01-1 mol.L-1). Furthermore, C-TOM showed enduring physical and chemical stability in 0.01 mol.L-1 HCl with persistent 68Ga elution profiles (>95%) and negligible 68Ge breakthrough (2 × 10-4%) for the preliminary evaluation period of ∼2 months. Overall, the studies indicated that, 68Ga with high radionuclidic purity (≥99.99%) can be eluted routinely in a small volume (∼1.5 mL) of 0.01 mol.L-1 HCl proving its potentials as a novel solid phase extractant for 68Ge/68Ge generator system.