Production mechanisms of actinium for medical applications

The master thesis will focus on literature study of the different methods to produce the radioactive isotopes of actinium, in particular the Ac-225 isotope. This isotope is of great interest to present medical treatment programs as it offers via its decay four energetic alpha particles providing exceptionally high linear energy transfer (LET) and potent cytotoxicity against small-volume disease and micro metastases. Clinical translation has been in high demand for this isotope. But the supply has been a major bottleneck, because the global demand has now substantially exceeded the production capacity. The production routes are presently explored via generators, reactors, cyclotrons, linacs or spallation facilities. Thus, the goal of this thesis would be to compare the different production mechanisms and show the pros and cons in each of them. Furthermore, if the time allows the thesis will offer extension of these studies to verify via Monte-Carlo simulations the generation for a particular route (namely the thick target production).