^99mTc radiolabeling of palm shell charcoal: A preliminary study for potential lung ventilation scintigraphy agent

To investigate the potential of activated carbon from palm kernel shell waste for ^99mTc-radiolabeled nanocarbon aerosol, a new production technology for carbon-based ^99mTc-radioaerosol from such a waste was developed. Treated-palm shell charcoal (t-PSC) was prepared by hydrothermal method to increase the surface area, followed by ^99mTc radiolabelling optimization. The optimal ^99mTc radiolabeling conditions resulted in an adsorption capacity of 21.43 ng Re/g t-PSC (8.32 GBq ^99mTc/g t-PSC). After high-energy milling treatment, fines particle fraction (FPF), and median mass aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of the milled t-PSC were 28.34 ± 0.61%, and 8.31 ± 2.31 μm, respectively. The results imply that ^99mTc-labeled t-PSC has a potential for lung ventilation scan agents with the optimization of milling process to reduce the aerodynamic size within the optimal lung delivery of less than 5 μm.