^99mTc is commercially available from ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators that use acidic alumina as a sorbent matrix. The limited sorption capability of alumina asks for high specific activity ⁹⁹Mo, which poses serious production challenges and raises proliferation concerns. Many ideas aimed to use low specific activity (LSA) ⁹⁹Mo. Nonetheless, the main roadblock is the low sorption capacity of the alumina.
This method demonstrates the feasibility of using mesoporous nano-ceria as column material for developing ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators by using LSA ⁹⁹Mo. The prepared generator could supply ^99mTc with high purity suitable for radiopharmaceutical applications independent of fission-produced ⁹⁹Mo.

This work was carried out in the group of Prof. Dr. Andreas Türler.

References:

• M. F. Nawar, A. Türler;
  "New strategies for a sustainable ^99mTc supply to meet increasing medical demands: Promising solutions for current problems"
  Frontiers in Chemistry, 2022, 10, 926258; doi:10.3389/fchem.2022.926258.
• M. F. Nawar, A. F. El-Daoushy, M. Madkour, A. Türler;
  "Sorption Profile of Low Specific Activity ⁹⁹Mo on Nanoceria-Based Sorbents for the Development of ^99mTc Generators: Kinetics, Equilibrium, and Thermodynamic Studies"
  Nanomaterials, 2022, 12(9), 1587; doi:10.3390/nano12091587.