Nanomaterial-based adsorbents: the prospect of developing new generation radionuclide generators to meet future research and clinical demands

Abstract

Nanostructured materials by virtue of huge surface to volume ratios, altered physical properties, tailored surface chemistry, favorable adsorption characteristics, and enhanced surface reactivity resulting from the nanoscale dimensions, have attracted considerable attention as a new class of adsorbent material in column chromatographic separation. This emerging class of adsorbent represents an innovative paradigm and is expected to play an important role in the development of radionuclide generators for nuclear medicine. The optimal combination of suitable nanomaterial and appropriate parent/daughter radionuclide pair forms the basis of such generators. Development of such generators is currently under intensive investigations and the utility of such systems is expected to pave the way for broad panoply of diagnostic and therapeutic applications in nuclear medicine. While nanomaterial-based radionuclide generator is still in its infancy, the use of such novel class of adsorbents is expected to have potential impact on shaping the radionuclide generator technology of future generation. This review provides a comprehensive summary on the utility of nanomaterials as effective adsorbents in the development column chromatographic radionuclide generators for medical applications. This overview outlines a critical assessment of role of the nanosorbents, recent developments, the contemporary status, and key challenges and apertures to the near future.