Photonuclear Reactions with Charged Particle Emission: Prospects for Medical Isotope Production

This review focuses on methods for the production of promising medical radionuclides using photoproton nuclear reactions. Primary attention is paid to theranostic isotopes, such as lutetium isotopes ¹⁷⁷ Lu and rhenium isotopes 186,188,189 Re, which can be obtained with high radionuclide purity. Of particular note is an innovative scheme for producing the diagnostic positron-emitting radioisotope zirconium ⁸⁹ Zr via photoproton reactions on molybdenum, which ensures high radionuclidic purity of the preparation and enables production organized according to the principle of a generator system. The leading role of the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics at Lomonosov Moscow State University in the development of this field in Russia is highlighted, which involves fundamental research on the photonuclear fission, obtaining reliable cross sections for photonuclear reactions and their subsequent application in medical technologies and clinical practice.