Advanced Accelerator Applications - AAA

• Radioactivity decay

A radioactive isotope is an unstable atom that spontaneously loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and radiation. By losing energy (radioactive decay process) the nucleus reaches a stable state. The time taken to halve the radioactivity produced is called half-life and it is a property of each radioactive species.

• Labelling

The labelling represents a synthetic strategy to introduce a radioactive isotope in an organic compound. Due to radioprotection reasons, the labeling with β⁺-emitters must be conducted in lead shielded hot cells, while using β^--emitters only a plexiglas protection can be suitable.

• Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy where a radiation source is placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment. Brachytherapy represents an effective treatment option for many types of cancer.

• Radio Metabolic Therapy (RMT)

A radionuclide containing a radioisotope emitting a high-energy electron is attached to a vector which has high affinity to cancer tissues (for example a peptide or a monoclonal antibody). Emitted electrons destroy the DNA of the tumor and cause the death of the malignant tissue

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Nuclear medicine imaging technique used in diagnosis and biomedical research. In PET, a chemical compound labeled with a short-lived positron-emitting radionuclide of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine is injected into the body. The activity of such a radiopharmaceutical is quantitatively measured throughout the target organs. Data are analyzed and reconstructed by means of a computer to produce images of the organs being scanned.

• Personalized Medicine

Personalized medicine seeks to tailor drug therapy based on information about a patient’s genetic make-up. Personalized medicine is already revolutionizing treatment for cancer and other conditions.

• Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging is the use of imaging technologies to assess biological activity in the body and is an invaluable way to obtain medical information that would otherwise require exploratory surgery or more expensive diagnostic tests.

• Radiopharmaceuticals

A radiopharmaceutical is a radioactive drug. Radiopharmaceuticals are used in the field of nuclear medicine as tracers in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. The most commonly used PET radiopharmaceutical is FDG.