Radiotracers_Teaching_Notes_for msc nuclear science

Radiochem

1. Chapter 4: Radiotracers - Teaching Notes

2. What are Radiotracers? • Radiotracers are isotopes that emit radiation and are used to trace the movement of substances in chemical or biological systems. • Example: Radioactive 24Na behaves like stable 23Na, but its decay makes it easier to detect. • Radiotracers allow detection of minute quantities, far more sensitive than chemical methods. • Their high sensitivity is key to many studies in biology and chemistry. • Techniques like Radioimmunoassay (RIA) leverage radiotracers for detection.

3. Advantages of Radiotracers • High Sensitivity: Can detect substances at concentrations lower than standard chemical methods. • Non-destructive: Radiotracers do not alter the system under study. • Cost-effective: Radiotracer methods are generally simpler and less expensive than alternatives like mass spectrometry. • Dynamic Mechanism Tracking: Used to trace processes like ion transport and metabolism.

4. Applications of Radiotracers • Biological Studies: Measure enzyme activity by tracking labeled substrates or products. • Medical Diagnostics: Used in techniques such as PET (Positron Emission Tomography) to image the body. • Environmental Studies: Track the movement of pollutants or nutrients in ecosystems. • Industrial Applications: Trace the flow of liquids or gases in pipelines.