Au 199
3.14 d
β- 0.3, 0.5...
γ 158, 208...

Chemical properties

Au-199 is usually in trivalent state.

Nuclear properties

Au-199 decays by β- emission with a half-life of 3.139(7) days to stable Hg-199. It emits a low energy β- spectrum with 82 keV average energy and 452 keV maximum energy. In addition to β- emission it emits low energy conversion and Auger electrons , thus emitting in total about 1.42 electrons (with energies above 7 keV) per decay. Hence, Au-199 is a β--emitter with half-life similar to Sc-47, but low energy electron spectrum, similar to Er-169 or Tb-161.

Moreover Au-199 emits γ-rays at 158.4 keV (40%) and 208.2 keV (8.72%), making it suitable for SPECT-imaging (possibly requiring high-energy collimators in presence of Au-198 admixture).

The mean electron energy emitted per decay is 112 keV, the mean photon energy per decay is 95 keV .

Production

Carrier-added Au-199 is produced by double neutron capture on Au-197 targets in the high flux reactor RHF at ILL. This production route leads to co-production of Au-198.

Distribution

Irradiated targets are dissolved and separations are performed at Hevesy Laboratory (DTU, Risø, Denmark). Activity will be shipped from there to the users in form of AuCl3 solution.

Examples of use

  • In a comparison of 22 different β- emitters Au-199 showed the most localized energy deposition with a dominant dose below 1 mm distance ,.
  • Dose distributions of Au nanoparticles containing Au-198 or Au-199 have been calculated .
  • Preclinical in vivo SPECT imaging with mixed Au-198/Au-199 radiotracers has been reported .
  • Au-199 has been used for radiolabeling and SPECT imaging of Au nanoparticles . Radioisotopes of gold are the optimum choice for this purpose since in vivo stability is naturally assured.
  • Radiolabeling of antibodies with Au-199 has been reported .

Purity grades available

research
preclinical

No carrier added (n.c.a.)

No
ParameterSpecifications
Production routeAu-197(n,γ)Au-198(n,γ)Au-199
DaughterDecays to stable Hg-199: 100% β-
Half-life3.14 d
Processing1-step separation
Primary Container2.5 mL borosilicate glass V-vial with silicon rubber screw cap
Product Graden.c.a.
Physical FormLiquid or dried deposit
Chemical FormIn 0.05 M HCl
Radioactive Concentration (gamma spectrometry)n.a.
AppearanceClear solution
Radionuclide identification (gamma spectrometry)158 keV and 208 keV gamma lines present
Radionuclidic Purity (gamma spectrometry)80-90% (also 10-20% Au-198)
Chemical purity (ICP-OES)n.a.
Molar activity (ICP-OES)About 1 GBq/µmol (0.06% of theoretical maximum)
Apparent Molar Activityn.a.
Microbiological qualityBioburden and endotoxin burden can be analysed post release, upon request
Bacterial endotoxinBioburden and endotoxin burden can be analysed post release, upon request
pH (pH strips)n.a.
Additional information
Activity availableFew GBq few times per year (planning in advance), depends on reactor schedule
Activity limit for UN2910 (excepted package) shipment0.6 GBq in dry state or 60 MBq in liquid form (combined Au-199 and Au-198 activity)
Other informationAu-198 : half-life 2.69 days, medium energy β-decay and emission of 412 keV (95.62%) γ-rays. For future needs the alternative production of n.c.a. Au-199 (higher molar activity and free of Au-198 admixture) could be considered

Applications

  • β-therapy
  • SPECT

Point of supply

  • Risø, Denmark

Involved production facilities

ILL, France
DTU, Denmark

Involved biomedical facilities

To find out in which biomedical facilities you can use this radionuclide, contact the helpdesk.

Helpdesk