Sol-gel Y-90 microspheres for radioembolization
Sol-gel microspheres
- Simple, low cost and high yield
- Synthesis at low temperature
- Control of the chemical composition
- High scale homogeneity and purity
- Higher activity of Y-90 after neutron irradiation
There are two types of Y-90 microspheres available on the market today:
Y-90 glass microspheres
Y-90 sol-gel microspheres
Y-90 resin microspheres
Glass microspheres (based on YAS glass)
- Neutron irradiation in reactor
- Yttrium in glass matrix (homogeneous distribution within microsphere volume)
- High specific activity
Resin microspheres (polymer based microspheres)
- Sr-90/Y-90 generator based technology (no rector needed)
- Yttrium binds to the surface (homogeneous distribution within microsphere surface)
- Low specific activity
In both cases there are several advantages and disadvantages. Alternative way to get Y-90 microspheres is to use sol-gel technology, that allows to produce cheap microspheres with high specific activity.