The ISOLPHARM project aims to produce medical radionuclides using the Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) technique at the SPES facility of INFN-LNL. This large-scale infrastructure allows for the generation of high-specific-activity radionuclides through resonant laser ionisation and mass separation, enabling precise collection and purification of selected nuclides. Within this framework, ¹¹¹Ag has drawn significant attention due to its unique combination of β⁻ and γ emissions, making it suitable both for therapy and imaging.

During his PhD, Davide contributed to the installation and characterisation of the ISOLPHARM Radionuclide Implantation Station (IRIS), an experimental setup designed to collect and quantify radionuclides produced at SPES. He supported the development of the software interface used to control and monitor the system, ensuring safe and remote operation near radioactive samples. Various substrate materials were tested for radionuclide implantation, leading to the identification of pharmaceutical-grade sorbitol and hypromellose as optimal candidates for future radiopharmaceutical production.

Parallel to production activities, Davide also worked on preclinical studies to assess the imaging potential of ¹¹¹Ag. To this end, he worked on two dedicated imaging devices: DUMBO (Detector Using MAPS for Beta-rays Observation), sensitive to the β⁻ emissions, and a custom gamma camera tailored to the 245 and 342 keV γ lines of ¹¹¹Ag. Both systems were modelled and optimised using the Geant4 simulation toolkit. DUMBO employs ALPIDE pixel sensors originally developed for CERN ALICE experiment, integrating high-energy physics technology into nuclear medicine research. The gamma camera, on the other hand, combines a tungsten collimator and a GAGG(Ce) scintillator array, achieving a spatial resolution of about 6.8 mm, sufficient for preclinical imaging of small animals.

The first imaging tests were performed in collaboration with the LENA Laboratory in Pavia, where ¹¹¹Ag samples were produced. Experiments using both Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging (CLI) and digital Autoradiography (ARG) confirmed the feasibility of ¹¹¹Ag imaging. In vivo studies on mice showed that, in absence of a targeting agent, the radionuclide accumulates mainly in the abdominal region, particularly in the lungs; this information is important for developing future ¹¹¹Ag-based radiopharmaceuticals.

The ISOLPHARM project continues to advance towards the production of novel radionuclides and radiopharmaceutical candidates. With facilities like SPES and collaborations across multiple disciplines, researchers are paving the way for more effective and personalised treatments in nuclear medicine.

After completing his master's degree in physics, Davide began his PhD within the ISOLPHARM project at the National Laboratories of Legnaro (INFN-LNL), Italy. His research focuses on the production and preclinical investigation of the theranostic radionuclide silver-111 (¹¹¹Ag), a promising candidate for Targeted Radionuclide Therapy.