Gravimetric drop-on-demand inkjet deposition for imaging phantoms with traceable activity

Autoradiography is an important tool in preclinical investigations with alpha-emitting radionuclides. Precise biodistribution studies establish the effectiveness of biological “targeting” strategies, assuring that the promise of targeted alpha therapy (TAT) is realized. There is a need for calibration and test objects (phantoms) to evaluate and support precise autoradiography. Leveraging recent advances in drop-on-demand inkjet methods, we demonstrate the preparation of an autoradiography phantom with activity traceable to primary measurements. With digital autoradiography we demonstrate spatial resolution less than 20 μm. Corrections required to calibrate a digital autoradiography system for activity are discussed. [Display omitted] •Drop on demand inkjet printing of 2D phantoms for autoradiography•Printed activity traceable to primary standards•Application of decay chain and survival corrections for quantitative 2D imaging•Proof of concept phantoms for pre-clinical imaging using alpha-emitters