Potential Production of Theranostic Boron Nitride Nanotubes ((64)Cu-BNNTs) Radiolabeled by Neutron Capture

In this work, the radioisotope (64)Cu was obtained from copper (II) chloride dihydrate in a nuclear research reactor by neutron capture, ((63)Cu(n,γ)(64)Cu), and incorporated into boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) using a solvothermal process. The produced (64)Cu-BNNTs were analyzed by TEM, MEV, FTIR, XDR, XPS and gamma spectrometry, with which it was possible to observe the formation of(64)Cu nanoparticles, with sizes of up to 16 nm, distributed through nanotubes. The synthesized of (64)Cu nanostructures showed a pure photoemission peak of 511 keV, which is characteristic of gamma radiation. This type of emission is desirable for Photon Emission Tomography (PET scan) image acquisition, as well as its use in several cancer treatments. Thus, (64)Cu-BNNTs present an excellent alternative as theranostic nanomaterials that can be used in diagnosis and therapy by different techniques used in nuclear medicine.