Gallium 68 production and its expanding role in nuclear medicine

The production of radiopharmaceuticals is a cornerstone of nuclear medicine, enabling noninvasivediagnostic imaging and targeted therapies for various medical conditions. Amongthese radiopharmaceuticals, gallium-68 (68Ga) is a short-lived positron-emitting radioisotopethat has gained increasing importance, particularly in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.Widely accessible through a generator system (68Ge/68Ga), gallium-68 is extensivelyemployed in labeling small molecules and peptides, broadening its range of clinical applications.This literature review provides a comprehensive advancements in the production and applicationsof gallium-68 with a particular focus on its role in diagnostic imaging and theranostics.Key production methods, including cyclotron and generator-based techniques, are discussed,along with the challenges and limitations inherent to gallium-68, such as technical hurdles,regulatory concerns, and supply chain issues. Furthermore, it examines current researchtrends and future prospects, providing insights into ongoing developments and potential newapplications of gallium-68 in medicine.