Breakthrough in Extracting Tumor-Fighting Medical Isotopes from Rare Earth Mineral Monazite

Highlights

• A research team led by Professor Wei Yuezhou successfully isolated high-purity lead-212 and bismuth-212 isotopes from monazite minerals for targeted cancer treatment.
• Developed innovative porous silica-supported anion exchange resin, enabling efficient and rapid separation of medical isotopes with high throughput.
• Breakthrough provides a transformative approach to addressing supply chain challenges in nuclear medicine and supports advanced cancer therapy development.

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A research team led by Professor Wei Yuezhou (opens in a new tab) at the School of Nuclear Science and Technology (opens in a new tab), University of South China, has achieved a significant breakthrough in extracting medical isotopes from the rare earth mineral monazite. The team successfully isolated high-purity lead-212 and bismuth-212, both highly promising alpha-emitting radionuclides for targeted therapy of malignant tumors.

Their findings were recently published in the prestigious Chemical Engineering Journal and summarized in a press release (opens in a new tab).

Lead-212 and bismuth-212 hold great potential for cancer treatment but have been limited by complex extraction processes, low yields, and high costs, hindering their broader clinical application. Leveraging China’s abundant monazite resources, the team developed an innovative porous silica-supported anion exchange resin, enabling the efficient and rapid separation of these isotopes from thorium nitrate produced during monazite processing. This novel material enhances throughput by supporting high flow-rate feedstocks, offering a viable solution to the global scarcity of lead-212 and bismuth-212.

Building on this success, the team is further researching the extraction of other valuable isotopes, such as radium-228, thorium-228, and radium-224, from monazite. With support from the University of South China’s expertise in nuclear science and medical applications, the team seeks to integrate technological innovation with industrialization, accelerating the development and accessibility of alpha-radionuclide therapies for cancer. This advancement provides a transformative approach to tackling supply chain challenges in nuclear medicine and supports China’s leadership in the rare earth and nuclear healthcare industries.