Neutronic Study on Ac-225 Production for Cancer Therapy by (n,2n) Reaction of Ra-226 or Th-230 Using Fast Reactor Joyo

Ac-225 has lately drawn considerable attention as a radioisotope for targeted alpha therapy treatment certain types of prostate, blood-derived, and disseminated cancers, but its supply is limited. Therefore, we investigated the production method by nuclear transmutation in fast neutron reactor. The authors irradiation Ra-226 or Th-230 target nuclide experimental reactor Joyo, owned operated Japan Atomic Energy Agency, which abundant neutrons large loading region with high heat removal capacity. increasing demand to produce Ac-225. another option, selected Th-230, 50 times more than natural uranium, an alternative nuclide. Irradiation energy above threshold causes (n,2n) reaction, producing Ra-225 Th-229, respectively, are parent nuclides analyses showed that 47 GBq can be generated annually irradiating 1 g Ra-226, 6.5 semi-permanently every year one-time 10 years (5 EFPY). It concluded 100 MWt Joyo potential 70% current global and/or generate keeps thousands years.