Current Development in the Cyclotron Production of ⁶⁸Ga for Medical Application

As a positron-emitting radionuclide, ⁶⁸Ga labeled radiopharmaceuticals are widely used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to diagnose tumor-related diseases. Currently, ⁶⁸Ga is primarily supplied by ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga generator. However, this approach is best suited for situations requiring small quantities of ⁶⁸Ga or lacking access to a cyclotron. Alternatively, researchers worldwide have explored the direct production of ⁶⁸Ga using cyclotron, employing solid or liquid targets via the ⁶⁸Zn(p,n)⁶⁸Ga nuclear reaction. This cyclotron-based method is ideal for generating larger quantities of ⁶⁸Ga where cyclotron facilities are available, thus serving as a vital supplement to the generator method. This work reviews the status of direct preparation ⁶⁸Ga in accelerator. It details the key steps in targetry, target chemistry, and ⁶⁸Zn recycling, aiming to support ⁶⁸Ga related research.