Production of radiopharmaceuticals using a cyclotron device has been one of the achievements of the country’s nuclear technology during the last two years, said Dr. Hossein Vahidi, head of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBUMS).
“At present, we have only one cyclotron device in the country,” he added.
Radiopharmaceuticals are unique medicinal formulations containing radioisotopes which are used in major clinical areas for diagnosis and/or therapy.
Radiopharmaceuticals are used in PET scan. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a type of nuclear medicine imaging. Radiopharmaceuticals are used in the field of nuclear medicine as radioactive tracers in medical imaging and in therapy for many diseases like cancer, IRNA reported.
Vahidi also said that no progress in the medical field is possible without its wide application.
“If we lack the capabilities in medical technology, then our people will be forced to travel abroad to seek simple diagnostic tests,” he noted.
Tehran’s Amirabad Nuclear Research Center in the last three years has produced various combinations of radiopharmaceuticals for medical use.
At present, a restricted number of pharmacy students at Tehran and Shahid Beheshti universities are undergoing specialized training in radiopharmacology.
Radiopharmacology or medicinal radiochemistry is a branch of pharmacy. Dosage control of radiopharmaceuticals is a highly sensitive issue. High dosage can cause cancer.
As an integral part of the Nuclear Medicine Department, the prime responsibility of Radiopharmacology is the preparation of high quality radiopharmaceuticals, the base for nuclear medicine technology.
