Challenges in the modeling of nuclear reactions for theranostic applications

We present the results obtained for a selection of nuclear reactions of interest for the INFN SPES/LARAMED initiative, focusing on the study of cross sections for the production of theranostic 47 Sc from Ti and V targets with state-of-art nuclear codes (Talys, Empire and Fluka). Radioisotope production for theranostics (i.e. their combined use for therapy and diagnostics) is currently a topic of great interest and a set of new, emerging isotopes has been identified to be used with existing clinical scanners or as therapeutic agents in alternative to the standard isotopes. Three new promising isotopes were recently recommended by IAEA: $^{67}$Cu, $^{47}$Sc and $^{186}$Re. These isotopes can be produced at cyclotrons by means of nuclear reactions induced by charged particles: however these processes produce the desired nuclide together with other contaminants , and require further purification of the samples before their medical use. High-purity production is a difficult task and poses restrictions to the irradiation conditions in order to optimize the reactions yield.