Radiochemistry Commons^™

Pretargeted Radioimmunotherapy Utilizing The Inverse Electron Demand Diels-Alder Reaction, Rosemery Membreno

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Radioimmunotherapy capitalizes on the specificity and affinity of antibodies for their antigens to localize radioactivity at the tumor site. One limitation in using antibodies is their long circulation time, which can take days to weeks to fully clear from blood circulation. When a radioisotope is directly conjugated to this immunoglobulin vector, the red marrow and other healthy organs are receiving a constant radiation dose while it is in blood circulation. This not only harms healthy organs, but limits the dose of radioactivity that can be administered thus prolonging treatment. A promising alternative to limit the radiation dose to non-tumor tissue …

Radium Dial Watches, Zainab Alzoubi

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This slide presentation for the Natural Sciences Poster Session at Parkland College summarizes the history of radium dial watches, including the Radium Girls, and explores whether radium dial watches might still be dangerous.

The Development Of Novel Platforms For The Imaging Of Cancer By Positron Emission Tomography, Brendon E. Cook

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The role of antibody-based imaging of cancer by positron emission tomography (PET) has expanded significantly in recent years and is poised to radically alter the way that cancer is diagnosed and treated. However, one hurdle that remains is the potentially harmful radiation dose that comes from these imaging agents, as the long circulation time of antibodies (days to weeks) necessitates the use of radionuclides with comparable physical half-lives (i.e. ⁸⁹Zr, ¹²⁴I, etc.). One particularly promising solution is the use of the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reaction between a 1,2,4,5-tetrazine (Tz) and a trans-cyclooctene (TCO) for pretargeting. …

Fundamental Chemistry Related To The Separations And Coordination Of Actinium-225, Thorium-227, And Technetium-99, Jasmine L. Hatcher

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This work explores the fundamental chemistry of actinium, thorium, and technetium in an effort to develop methodologies which help to address complications specific to each of these elements. Developing fundamental knowledge in inorganic chemistry has the power to meaningfully address a number of real world problems. By using simple systems and experiments like following an electron or changing the solvent system, we are able to gain invaluable information which can be used to address major issues.

Actinium-225 (t_½: 9.92 d) is an alpha-emitting radionuclide with nuclear properties well suited for alpha therapy of malignant tumors. The present global …

A System For Conducting Laser-Induced Fluorescence Measurements On Gas Mixtures Exposed To Alpha Radiation, Patrick Ables

Master's Theses

This paper documents modifications to an existing vacuum system to allow laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy measurements within simulated atmospheres under a variety of conditions. This added capability will expand the laboratory’s ability to experimentally validate a computational model that calculates the effects of radiation within the atmosphere. The computational model could reveal radiation-induced chemical products that can be used to develop an alternative detection method that can be implemented from a safe distance. The selection of molecules for experimental validation has been limited to those which can be detected utilizing cavity ringdown spectroscopy. The current model indicates nitric oxide and ozone …

Recommended Corrective Security Measures To Address The Weaknesses Identified Within The Shapash Nuclear Research Institute, Khadija Moussaid, Oum Keltoum Hakam

International Journal of Nuclear Security

The Shapash Nuclear Research Institute (SNRI) data book was issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2013. The hypothetical facility data book describes the hypothetical site, which is divided into two areas: the low-security area, known as the administrative area, and the very high-security area, known as the protected area. The book contains detailed descriptions of each area’s safety and security measures, along with figures of multiple buildings in both areas, and also includes information about the site’s computer networks.

This paper aims to identify security weaknesses related to the institute’s location, the Administrative Area (AA), the Protected …

Rapid Methods For Actinide And Strontium-89,90 Determination In Urban Matrices, Sherrod Maxwell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Rapid radiochemical methods are needed to provide fast, reliable analytical measurements on a variety of different sample matrices in the case of a radiological event to protect the public, mitigate dose and protect the environment. If a radiological dispersive device (RDD), an Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) or a nuclear accident occurs, there will be an urgent need for quick analyses of urban matrices materials to support decision-making, dose mitigation and environmental clean-up. Since an incident involving a RDD or IND will likely occur in an urban or metropolitan area, it is very important to employ swift, robust analytical methods that …

Development Of Chemical Separation Methods Using Transition Metals For Nuclear Forensic And Medicinal Applications, Lucas Peter Boron-Brenner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Insufficient data exists on the effects of prompt fast neutron activation on metals found commonly in nuclear devices and the urban environment. Different metals such as Ti, Au, Fe, and Cu were activated using the Flattop Criticality Benchmark at the Device Assembly Facility on the Nevada Test Site using a known neutron spectrum and flux to determine a baseline cross section value. Cross section information gathered from these neutron activation measurements could provide information that helps government and law enforcement agencies to correctly trace the origin of a nuclear device’s fuel or component features.

Based on activation products produced in …

Separation Of Neighboring Trivalent Lanthanides For Neutron Capture Cross Section Measurements, Balazs Jozsef Bene

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The determination of the low-energy neutron capture cross-section of 171Tm with greater accuracy is important for both astrophysics and Stockpile Stewardship. Thulium-171 is a branching point in the s-process of stellar nucleosynthesis. Branching point nuclei, with half-lives in the order of 1 – 100 years are places where neutron capture and beta decay competes. This isotope is also the second order (n, γ) reaction product of 169Tm, which was used as a radiochemical detector in nuclear weapon experiments. It was placed at strategic locations in nuclear devices. Following the test, samples were analyzed in the collected samples for products of …

Use Of Sodium Bismuthate Chromatography For Separation Of Americium From Curium And Other Elements In Spent Nuclear Fuel, Jason Michael Richards

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A novel method for partitioning americium from curium has been developed using sodium bismuthate as both an oxidant and a separation medium. The presence of americium and curium in nuclear waste increases the heat load in geological repositories and leads to larger waste volumes. These elements are also the source of most of the long-term radiotoxicity of the waste. However, the heat load and long-term radiotoxicity contribution from americium is much greater than that from curium. The contribution of curium to the heat load and radiotoxicity of the waste is significant on the same time scale as longer-lived fission products …

Developing Kenya’S Educational Capacity In Nuclear Security Through Nuclear Forensics Research, Hudson Kalambuka Angeyo

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Nuclear energy’s distinctive characteristics give rise to special educational requirements. These requirements are necessary to not only address the danger of nuclear proliferation, but also to build capacity for a secure nuclear fuel circle. In this paper, I assess the status of educational capacity in nuclear security both in response to, and in support of, Kenya’s nuclear power program. I highlight the nuclear security educational infrastructure’s key features in the context of nuclear power, noting the low capacity at Kenyan universities. I identify the steps required to ensure that the country’s dynamic nuclear regulatory infrastructural framework is used effectively to …

Improving Fallout Characterization By Using Multivariate Techniques To Determine Composition, Christopher R. Pitkins

Theses and Dissertations

Multivariate statistical techniques have been applied in order to un-mix nuclear fallout debris chemical data. This information is critical to characterization of fallout particle formation following a nuclear detonation. Understanding the correlation between environmental precursors and actinide concentrations in post-detonation nuclear fallout material aids in understanding the physical and chemical processes that alter nuclear device signatures in the fireball. This research examines 123 nuclear fallout samples from a historical nuclear test. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) are used to collect chemical compositions of the fallout samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) is applied in order to examine …

The "Double Standard" Of Nonproliferation: Regime Type And The U.S. Response To Nuclear Weapons Program, Alina Shymanska

International Journal of Nuclear Security

There is no doubt that the NPT regime is far from being equal for all states involved. As the predominant hegemonic power since WWII, the United States plays a major role in deciding the fates of non-great power proliferators. This article tries to find the logical explanation of the phenomenon whereby some nuclear proliferators are absolved regardless of their active accumulation of nuclear arsenals while others are labeled as “rogue states” and ordered to disarm. The article suggests that a particular proliferator’s political regime could affect the way in which its state is approached by the U.S., known for its …

Parp Pet Imaging Agents, Brandon Carney

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The poly (adenosine-diphosphate (ADP) ribose) polymerase (PARP) family of enzymes has been of interest to researchers and clinicians for over fifty years, especially the first member of the family, PARP1. This enzyme has become a target for cancer therapeutics due the reliance of highly proliferating cells on PARP1 for genomic maintenance. In the coming age of individualized medicine, however, highly specific therapeutic agents like PARP inhibitors are in need of similarly highly specific companion diagnostic agents. These kind of agents have been made possible with the quickly progressing field of molecular imaging. Specifically, positron emission tomography (PET) has enabled the …

The Future Of Nuclear Security In Moroccan Territory After The Creation Of The New Moroccan Agency Of Nuclear And Radiological Safety And Security: Opportunities And Challenges, Amal Touarsi, Amina Kharchaf

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Nowadays, a security regime for protecting nuclear and radiological material—providing an intelligent national regulatory institution and establishing national security laws—is necessary in order for a state to ensure security of nuclear and radiological materials used within its borders.

This paper focuses on discussing the opportunities and challenges facing the future of nuclear security after the creation of the new Moroccan Agency of Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security.

Assessing And Enhancing Nuclear Safety And Security Culture For Small Facilities That Handle Radioactive Material, Solymosi Máté

International Journal of Nuclear Security

The use of radioactive sources is expanding all over the world and abreast the necessity of the enhancement of its safe and secure application is increasing too. In the nuclear industry, the safety and security are top priorities since decades. They share the same goal, to protect humans from the negative affect of the ionizing radiation. The human component of them is a significant factor and technical solutions can protect us so far and thus the culture for safety and security become a major focus. On the other hand, there are still some contradiction between recommendations and international guidance of …

Solar System Battery Backups For Reactor Coolant Pumps During Electricity Outages Resulting From Natural Disasters, Md. Shamsul Huda Sohel

International Journal of Nuclear Security

In a nuclear power plant, its coolant system is major safety equipment. Coolant system failure causes several accidents in nuclear history. There are so many causes for coolant system failure. One of them is lack of electric power for coolant pumps. In typically NPP there is backup system for power redundancy. In this article, focus on reactor coolant system and its backup power when main grid lines failure. Here discuss about solar backup power for batteries and increases a safety lines for reactor coolant pumps. So, our main goal is providing a battery backup from reliable natural source and ensuring …

Chelating Ligands And Nanomaterials Based On Graphene Oxide For The Reduction And Sequestration Of Radiometals And Protein Purification, Sam Groveman

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Nuclear waste remediation and protein purification using immobilized metals can benefit enormously from the design and implementation of novel chelating nanomaterials. Available commercial resins capable of sequestering metals are based on bulk materials such as organic polymers, ceramics, and their composites. The use of two-dimensional nanoplatforms with large surface areas expands the horizon for the research and development of new systems with higher efficiency and lower cost. Fundamental science challenges remain in the synthesis and characterization of these nanomaterials and their integration with known or novel coordinating ligands.

Chemical exfoliation of graphite under strong oxidizing conditions yields graphene oxide (GO) …

Development Of Neurotensin-Based Radiopharmaceuticals For Neurotensin-Receptor-1-Positive Tumors Targeting, Yinnong Jia

Theses & Dissertations

The neurotensin receptor 1 (NTR1) is overexpressed in many cancers, due to its role as a growth pathway. These NTR1-positive cancers include pancreatic, colon, prostate and breast cancers. In the radiopharmaceutical field, the overexpression of NTR1 in cancer has prompted the development of NTR1-targeted diagnostics and therapeutics. The neurotensin (NT) peptide exhibits low nanomolar affinity for NTR1 and has been the paradigm for NTR1-targeted agents. Since the 1980’s, radiolabeled NT analogs have been developed and evaluated for targeting NTR1-positive cancers. Since native NT is rapidly degraded in vivo by a variety of peptidases, a tremendous amount of effort has been …

Synthesis, Characterization And Biological Studies Of Technetium-99m And Rhenium-188 Peptides, Vanessa Anne Sanders

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Radiopharmaceuticals are very powerful diagnostic tools for evaluation of a host of medical conditions. These drugs are labeled with radioactive isotopes, which are utilized to create pictures of areas of interest through absorption of the drug. They are currently in high demand due to their ability to image areas that traditional imaging devices cannot. The radioisotope 99mTc, with a half-life of 6.01 hours and a 140 keV gamma emission, is central to many radiopharmaceutical compounds. This isotope is easily obtained from a 99Mo-99mTc generator, through beta decay and column chromatography separations. Very little technetium, less than 6 ng, is needed …