radioactive pharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceuticals, or medicinal radiocompounds, are a group of pharmaceutical drugs containing radioactive isotopes.Radiopharmaceuticals are used to produce images of organs or tissues of interest, a process that is called scintigraphy. A type of medical device known as gamma camera is able to detect the gamma rays emitted by the radioisotope. Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that uses radioactive tracers (radiopharmaceuticals) to assess bodily functions and to diagnose and treat disease.

1. Archana B. Chavhan
M.Pharm (QA)
KYDSCT’S COLLEGE OF PHARMACY,
SAKEGAON,BHUSAWAL

2. They are radioactive substances or radioactive medications for
diagnostic & therapeutic intervention
Radiopharmaceutical are medicinal formulations containing
radioisotopes which are safe for organization in people for
analysis or for treatment
Usually radiopharmaceuticals contain at least 2major
components;
1. Radionuclide that provides the desired radiation
characteristics &
2. Chemical compound with structural or chemical properties
that determine the physiological behavior of
radiopharmaceutical

3. IDEAL PROPERTIES OF RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
Short life isotopes
Pure gamma emitter
Localization on desired tissue
Easy preparation

4. Radiation is an inherent characteristic of all radiopharmaceuticals.
A radiopharmaceutical can be as simple as radioactive elements such as 133Xe, a simple salt such
as 131 [Na].
Decay of radionuclide:
Radionuclides are unstable nuclei that are stabilized upon radioactive decay.
A radionuclide may decay by emitting different types of ionizing radiations;

5.  Low penetrating power
 Positively charged
 Detected by strong magnesium field
 Heavy metals emits these rays
 Greater penetrating power than alpha rays
 Have less ionizing power
 Have negligible mass
 Two types;
Positrons
negatrons
 More penetrating power than alpha & beta rays
 No mass no charge
 Have poor ionizing power
 Same characters as that of X-rays

7. RADIOPHARMACY
Radio pharmacy would normally be designated as a controlled area
and access will be restricted.
3 important parameters need to be considered for protecting
operators;
Distance between operator & source
Time spent manipulating the source
Amount of shielding used to reduce dose rate from the source

8. Applications of
radioisotopes
In cancer or tumor therapy
In diagnosis
Biological & medicinal research
For sterilization of pharmaceutical / surgical instruments

9. Clinical applications
Gold (198Au) in the carcinoma of uterus
Sodium phosphate (32P) used to treat
polycythemia & leukemia
Sodium iodide(131I) in treatment of
thyroid disorders

10. Disposal of radioactive waste
NEAR SURFACE DISPOSAL:
• Disposal in a facility consisting of engineered channels or vaults constructed on the ground
surface or up to few tens of meters below ground level.
• These type of wastes loses most or all of its radioactivity within 300 years.
It includes contaminated equipment from the operation of nuclear power
plant like clothing, rags, tools and equipment.
• Very short-lived low-level radioactive waste such as that from hospitals, universities and
industry generally contains only small amounts of radioactive materials with short half-lives.
This means that radioactivity decays away in hours or days.

11. DISPOSAL OF INTERMEDIATE LEVEL WASTE
⚫ Depending on its characteristics, intermediate level radioactive wastes can be
disposed in facilities of different types.
• Disposal could be by emplacement in a facility constructed in caves, vaults or silos at
least few hundred meters below the ground level. • Intermediate level radioactive
wastes require long-term management.
• These are much bulkier materials and are first sealed in steel drums and are encased
in concrete trenches.

12. DEEP BOREHOLES
⚫ Deep borehole disposal is the concept of disposing high-level radioactive waste from
nuclear reactors in extremely deep boreholes instead of in more traditional deep
geological repositories that are excavated like mines.
⚫ Similar concept to geological repositories.
⚫ Kilometers deep rather then hundreds of meters. • Provide further insulation from
ground water.