RESUMEN
It has been observed that microfluidic chips used for synthesizing (18)F-labeled compounds demonstrate visible light emission without nearby scintillators or fluorescent materials. The origin of the light was investigated and found to be consistent with the emission characteristics from Cerenkov radiation. Since (18)F decays through the emission of high-energy positrons, the energy threshold for beta particles, i.e. electrons or positrons, to generate Cerenkov radiation was calculated for water and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), the most commonly used polymer-based material for microfluidic chips. Beta particles emitted from (18)F have a continuous energy spectrum, with a maximum energy that exceeds this energy threshold for both water and PDMS. In addition, the spectral characteristics of the emitted light from (18)F in distilled water were also measured, yielding a broad distribution from 300 nm to 700 nm, with higher intensity at shorter wavelengths. A photograph of the (18)F solution showed a bluish-white light emitted from the solution, further suggesting Cerenkov radiation. In this study, the feasibility of using this Cerenkov light emission as a method for quantitative measurements of the radioactivity within the microfluidic chip in situ was evaluated. A detector previously developed for imaging microfluidic platforms was used. The detector consisted of a charge-coupled device (CCD) optically coupled to a lens. The system spatial resolution, minimum detectable activity and dynamic range were evaluated. In addition, the calibration of a Cerenkov signal versus activity concentration in the microfluidic chip was determined. This novel method of Cerenkov radiation measurements will provide researchers with a simple yet robust quantitative imaging tool for microfluidic applications utilizing beta particles.
Asunto(s)
Radioisótopos de Flúor/efectos de la radiación , Técnicas Analíticas Microfluídicas/instrumentación , Fotometría/instrumentación , Radiometría/instrumentación , Procesamiento de Señales Asistido por Computador/instrumentación , Partículas beta , Diseño de Equipo , Análisis de Falla de Equipo , Luz , Dosis de Radiación , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Sensibilidad y EspecificidadRESUMEN
Phase change in a fluid subject to a large spectrum of radiations is examined. The statistical variation in the fluid energy is considered in concert with the radiation field attributes to establish conditions for spinodal decomposition and bulk nucleation. This approach is developed in general and carried forward for the specific case of (18)O-enriched water used in commercial targets for the production of (18)F. Sensitivities of the outcome to specific attributes of the fluid state model are examined. The possibility for very high bulk nucleation site densities is exposed and may explain the observed thermal-fluid behavior in commercial water targets. These targets operate at elevated pressure and temperatures at and in excess of the saturation temperature. They are also subjected to a large spectrum of radiations, with differing levels of energy deposition. The conditions for spinodal decomposition and bulk nucleation (with and without radiation) in these targets are evaluated. It is likely that some bulk nucleation is occurring, and causing the density reduction locally in the target. Suitable experiments to evaluate this potential are more fully possible.
Asunto(s)
Radioisótopos de Flúor/química , Radioisótopos de Flúor/efectos de la radiación , Microfluídica/métodos , Modelos Químicos , Agua/química , Simulación por Computador , Transferencia de Energía/efectos de la radiación , Calor , Transición de Fase , TermodinámicaRESUMEN
Enriched and natural abundance water samples were irradiated in a niobium (Nb) chamber target with Havar and Nb-sputtered Havar foils. Irradiations were performed with 17.5MeV protons at currents from 35 to 100microA lasting for 1-2.5h. Radionuclidic and chemical (cationic) impurities were determined via gamma spectroscopy and ICP-MS, respectively. Anionic impurities were evaluated by ion chromatography. Impurities in water samples irradiated with the Havar-Nb foils were much lower than the samples irradiated with an unmodified Havar foil. No significant differences were observed in the impurity levels between samples of H(2)(18)O-enriched and natural abundance water. Radionuclidic impurities were observed to decrease after 3-4 irradiations on a fresh Havar entrance foil, and reached a constant value for subsequent irradiations with the same integrated current. For targets covered with Havar foil, radionuclidic impurities were found to be proportional to the beam-integrated current regardless of the beam power and, unexpectedly, dependant of the beam power when using a Havar-Nb foil.
Asunto(s)
Aleaciones/química , Radioisótopos de Flúor/química , Niobio/efectos de la radiación , Radioisótopos/química , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/química , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/efectos de la radiación , Agua/química , Radioisótopos de Flúor/efectos de la radiaciónRESUMEN
The meta-halo-3-methylbenzonitrile derivatives (-F, -Cl, -Br, -I) were synthesized as model compounds to study reactivity towards aromatic nucleophilic substitution. A single-mode microwave system was incorporated into a commercial radiochemical synthetic module for (18)F labeling. Labeling yields of 64% for fluoro-, 13% for bromo- and 9% for chloro-precursors were achieved in DMSO in <3 min. The observed order of reactivity of the leaving groups toward aromatic nucleophilic substitution was F>>Br>Cl>>>I.