High resolution gamma-spectrometry by HPGe detector and beta-spectrometry by liquid scintillation counting, hyphenated to elemental analysis techniques: applications of High Specific Activity radio-nuclides for ultra-trace metallo-toxicological and environmental studies

Thin- and thick-target excitation functions of 188,189,191Pt radionuclides were experimental determined by cyclotron irradiationn, using nuclear reactions natOs(α,xn) in the energy range up to 38 MeV with the Scanditronix-MC40 Cyclotron of the Joint Research Center-Ispra, VA (Italy) of the European Communities. Radionuclidic, radiochemical and chemical purities were also measured using analytical and radioanalytical techniques. The result of the experimental thick- and thin-target excitation functions of 188,189,191Pt radiotracers, produced via natOs(α,xn) reactions, are presented. The data are of relevant interest for optimizing cyclotron prodaction of platinum radionuclides to be used as radiotracers for metallo-biochemistry, biomedical, toxicological and environmental studies. The authors will present the analytical and radioanalytical methods that were developed to determine the amount of isotopic carrier and the SA(NCA) in the case of 188Pt, 191Pt, to be used for multiple labeling' experiments, by: high resolution γ-spectrometry, β-spectrometry by liquid scintillation counting, neutron activation analysis, FL-AAS, and ICP-OES. Also, some preliminary biological applications were carried out to determine the cyto-toxicology of different chemical forms of platinum.