RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Direct Synthesis of Radioactive Gold Nanoparticles Using a Research Nuclear Reactor JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology JO J. Nucl. Med. Technol. FD Society of Nuclear Medicine SP 280 OP 284 DO 10.2967/jnmt.117.206367 VO 46 IS 3 A1 Maria C. Garcia Toro A1 Joshua P. Schlegel A1 Carlos H. Castano Giraldo YR 2018 UL http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/46/3/280.abstract AB We report the single-step synthesis of radioactive gold nanoparticles with an activity and size appropriate for potential use in cancer treatment and diagnosis. Methods: A solution of 2 mM gold chloride (HAuCl4⋅3H2O), 1 mM polyvinylpyrrolidone (molecular weight, 360,000), and 60 mM 2-propanol was prepared in deionized water. Seven different samples of the solution were irradiated in a neutron flux of 7.45 × 1012 n/cm2⋅s in a research reactor for 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 10, 30, or 60 min. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized for morphology and chemical composition using a transmission electron microscope and ImageJ. Results: The obtained nanoparticles were 3–450 nm in size. The average size depended on the length of irradiation, with a longer irradiation producing smaller nanoparticles. Irradiation for 10 min produced nanoparticles with characteristics suitable for potential cancer treatment and diagnosis (average size, 50 nm; activity, 6.85 MBq/mL). Conclusion: Direct production of chemically stable radioactive gold nanoparticles was successfully accomplished using the Missouri University of Science and Technology reactor. The nanoparticles had physical and radioactive characteristics potentially useful for cancer treatment and diagnosis.