New Understanding of Astatine’s Chemical Properties Will Aid Targeted Alpha Therapy for Cancer
Student working in the Texas A&M University lab processing astatine-211. Image courtesy of Texas A&M University.
Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT) has emerged as one of the most powerful cancer treatment available thanks to its ability to cause large amounts of damage near a tumor cell while keeping the healthy surrounding tissue intact.
Recently, scientists at Texas A&M University investigated astatine’s behavior when interacting with ion exchange and extraction chromatography resins. Ion exchange and extraction resins are able to selectively isolate and purify radioactive isotopes to make them available for use as cancer therapies. The research examined a variety of different resins to optimize At-211 separation and purification and determined fundamental chemical parameters responsible for the strength of At-211 bonding to various extraction and ion exchange resins.
The results shed light on the strength of At-211 binding to molecules with a variety of functional groups. This research enhances astatine radiolabeling procedures and advances the development of TAT drugs. Understanding astatine's chemical behavior is essential for improving the efficiency of TAT drug production and ensuring precise delivery of At-211 to tumor cells.
Astatine-211 is available through National Isotope Development Center. Here, customers can order At-211 from either Texas A&M University or the University of Washington. Both DOE IP University Isotope Network partners are capable of producing medically relevant quantities of At-211 and can deliver it to nearby facilities using overnight shipping.
