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Radiochemistry: Present Status and Future Perspectives

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 386

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Center for Radiation Chemistry Research, Idaho National Laboratory, 1955 N. Fremont Avenue, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
Interests: actinides; radiation chemistry; radiochemistry; separations; nuclear energy; waste management

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Radiochemical Separations and Radiation Science, Center for Radiation Chemistry Research, Idaho National Laboratory, 1955 N. Fremont Avenue, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
Interests: radiochemistry; actinide solution chemistry; complexation thermodynamics; solvent extraction; radiation chemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Radiochemistry is the study of radioisotopes and their chemical properties, reactions, and processes. The careful manipulation of these isotopes is critical for the advancement of technologies in nuclear energy and medicine, as well as for deepening our fundamental understanding of the elements at the outer reaches of the periodic table, where nuclear instability is the norm. With increased academic access to radioisotopes like the actinides, as well as the resurgence of interest in nuclear energy and radiopharmaceuticals for targeted cancer therapies, this Special Issue compiles research that underscores the current status and future prospects of radiochemistry.

This Special Issue focuses on isotope production, radioisotope separation techniques, chemical and radiation-induced radical reactions, complexation thermodynamics, organometallic synthesis, crystallography, and alpha-particle and gamma counting spectroscopies to highlight the current state of the art and shape the future of this broad field of chemistry.

Dr. Gregory P. Holmbeck
Dr. Travis S. Grimes
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • actinides
  • isotope production
  • nuclear energy
  • nuclear medicine
  • radioisotopes
  • radiolysis
  • separations
  • waste management

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

23 pages, 26815 KB  
Article
Carbon-11 Production: Communication, Operations, Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Analysis for Maintaining High-Grade Bombardment and Provisions of [11C]Carbon Dioxide and Its Conversion to [11C]Methyl Iodide
by Simon K. Joseph, Andrew Tavare, Kiara Thomas, Dae-In Kim, Kaleigh Timmins, Melchor V. Cantorias, Briana Roman, Jakub Mroz, Jairo Baquero, Julian Calderin, Lucas Fernandez, Sandy Phung, Andrew Chung and Patrick Carberry
Molecules 2026, 31(12), 2095; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31122095 (registering DOI) - 15 Jun 2026
Abstract
Incorporation of carbon-11 radiotracers for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging requires close coordination between cyclotron operation, radiochemistry production, quality control, and clinical administration. A persistent challenge exists is the minimization of the carbon-12 isotopologue mass of the radiotracer, which reduces molar activity and [...] Read more.
Incorporation of carbon-11 radiotracers for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging requires close coordination between cyclotron operation, radiochemistry production, quality control, and clinical administration. A persistent challenge exists is the minimization of the carbon-12 isotopologue mass of the radiotracer, which reduces molar activity and can compromise PET image quality. This challenge can be particularly acute at facilities where cyclotron operation and carbon-11 radiochemistry are realized by separate organizations with distinct operational priorities. Here, we describe how the Radiochemistry Group at New York University Grossman School of Medicine and Siemens Healthineers have developed an integrated operational framework for consistent, high-quality carbon-11 production within an academic–industry partnership. Cyclotron target maintenance and conditioning protocols, remote chemistry module maintenance schedules, a validated radio-HPLC method (UV LOD = 0.9 µg/mL, UV LOQ = 3.0 µg/mL) for trending methyl iodide isotopologue mass, and structured inter-team communication protocols are presented in this manuscript. Quality analysis demonstrates molar activities consistently exceeding the recommended minimum of 40 GBq/µmol for reversibly binding radiotracers used in human PET studies. This work is intended as a practical resource for radiochemists, cyclotron engineers, and facility managers working to establish or improve institutional carbon-11 programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radiochemistry: Present Status and Future Perspectives)
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