Chemical properties

In solution Mn-52 is usually in divalent state. It can be radiolabelled with macrocyclic chelators. DOTA is being used, and others are proposed .

Nuclear properties

Mn-52 decays with a half-life of 5.59 days by β⁺ decay (29.4(4)%) or electron capture (70.6%) to stable Cr-52. The emitted positrons have 242 keV average energy and 575 keV maximum energy.

Mn-52 emits a nearly prompt (41 ps level half-life) cascade of three hard γ-rays: 1434.1 keV (100%), 935.5 keV (94.5%) and 744.2 keV (90%) .

Hence, Mn-52 is a long-lived PET isotope with short positron range (similar to F-18) and good intrinsic resolution, but potential cross-talk from prompt γ-rays emission and significant γ dose rate.

The total electron energy emitted per decay is 74 keV, the total photon energy per decay is 3446 keV .

Production

Mn-52 is produced by proton irradiation of natural Cr targets at Hevesy Laboratory at DTU.

Distribution

The radiochemical separation is performed at Hevesy Laboratory (DTU, Risø, Denmark). Activity will be shipped from there to the users in solution or in form of a dried deposit respectively.

Examples of use

• Mn-52 has been used for in vivo immune-PET imaging , , .
  
• Mn-52 is suited for combined PET/MR imaging or as PET analog of Mn-based MRI contrast agents to study their in vivo distribution and pharmacokinetics , , , .
• Mn-52 can serve as surrogate for Ca²⁺ uptake studies, e.g. related to diabetes .
• Mn-52 has been used for in vivo stem cell tracking .
• Mn-52 labelled liposomes have been evaluated in vivo .
• Mn-52 has been used to visualize neuronal tracts , .
• The radiation effective dose of Mn-52 administered as chloride to humans has been determined and radiation toxicity has been evaluated in rats .