Description
Opportunity : Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to collaborate or license a technology that enables rapid, one-step purification of radiometals Background : Numerous sectors of modern economy rely on the use of radioactive isotopes and our ability to extract them from complex matrices. For example, medical imaging procedures (ex: PET scans) and cancer therapy drugs (ex: Alpha and beta therapy) require the production of high-purity radioisotopes such as Lu-177 and Y-90. The list of medical radioisotopes is rapidly growing and there is an urgent need to develop effective chelators that could be used in vivo for isotopes that promise to revolutionize nuclear medicine, such as Ac-225, Th-227, La-134, and Ce-134. Likewise, research activities, quality controls, and environmental controls at nuclear facilities often require separation and/or sequestration methods for radionuclides. However, currently available technologies (ex: small synthetic chelators for medical applications; ion-exchange resins for laboratory separation) for radionuclide purification and binding are cumbersome, costly, and not versatile. Description : Our technology leverages a natural and macromolecular compound that specifically targets certain radionuclides. The technology is particularly suitable for the radioisotopes used in radiopharmaceutical applications (actinium, lanthanides, yttrium, thallium, bismuth, indium, and scandium isotopes) and nuclear fuel cycle-related activities (actinides and lanthanide fission products). Our proprietary compound displays extremely high selectivity for the above trivalent cations (i.e., >100-million-fold) over most of the other cations in the periodic table. The macromolecular nature of the compounds allows fast and easy recovery and purification of the trivalent radioisotopes by simple filtration or elution. Advantages : High-purity radioisotopes can be obtained in a single elution step – does not require loading a resin and eluting. No need to change the sample’s matrix to highly acidic media. No need to preconcentrate the samples, the technology works even for trace levels (ex: femtomolar range). The technology can be deployed directly at physiological pH and also works in acidic media, down to pH 3. Works with impure samples (ex: 1 trillion-fold excess of cationic contaminants). Separation based on a size difference – which is much more robust and easier to control than a difference in chemical affinity (mechanism used in current technologies). Compound is natural and compatible with pharmaceutical formulations Compound can recover or be labelled with multiple radioisotopes at the same time. Works over a broad temperature range (up to ~90°C). Potential Applications : Positive practical and financial impact for radiochemistry laboratories, isotope manufacturers, nuclear facilities, environmental control entities, and pharmaceutical companies. Production of medical and research isotopes (ex: Ac-225, Y-90…). Therapies and medical imaging. Removal of radioactive contaminants from industrial streams. Analytical chemistry Environmental monitoring Nuclear forensics Development Status: Patent pending. TRL 2-3 Technology validated on multiple radioisotope separations (ex: Ac from Ra/Th ; Y from Sr/Fe/Mn/Ca/Cu/Zn ; Lanthanides form d-block metals…). >99.9% Y-90 and Sr-90 obtained in 1 step. >99.9% actinium obtained in 1 step. LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Method for radiometal separation and analysis should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following: 1. Company Name and address. 2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. 3. A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology. Written responses should be directed to: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Innovation and Partnerships Office P.O. Box 808, L-795 Livermore, CA 94551-0808 Attention: FBO 504-21 Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Method for radiometal separation and analysis.