47Sc production with proton beams on isotopically enriched 48Ti and 49Ti targets

The theranostic emerging radionuclide Sc-47 is under the spotlight of the scientific community due to its medically favorable decay characteristics (t(1/)2=3.3492 d, E-gamma=159.381 keV, E-beta-,E-mean=162.0 keV) for both the diagnostic and treatment procedures. In the framework of the LARAMED (LAboratory of RAdionuclides for MEDicine) program at INFN-LNL (National Institute of Nuclear Physics-Legnaro National Laboratories), the investigation of the possible 47Sc production routes using a 70 MeV proton beam is one of the goals of the REMIX (Research on Emerging Medical radIonuclides from the X-sections) project, funded by INFN for the years 2021-2023. Since the LARAMED bunkers are currently under completion, experiments are performed in collaboration with the GIP ARRONAX facility (Nantes, France), where a 70 MeV multi-particle cyclotron is operational. In this work, the cross-section measurements using enriched Ti-48,Ti-49 targets are reported and the results presented in comparison to the previous literature data, when available. The Sc-47 excitation functions are analyzed in relation to the contaminants' ones since the co-produced radionuclides can affect the dose delivered to a patient. Sc-46 cross-section curves are mainly taken into account since Sc-46 cannot be chemically separated from Sc-47 and its half-life (t(1/2)=83.79 d) is longer than the Sc-47 one (t(1/2)=3.3492 d).