Use of Radioisotopes in Biotechnology

Radioisotopes are artificially produced radioactive atoms with more neutrons than protons. In the process of exchanging neutrons with nearby atoms, they give off electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation produced from these isotopes is useful in the medical, agricultural and other life science fields. Over 1,800 types of radioisotopes have been produced, with about 200 types used regularly, worldwide. Radioisotopes are selected based on the practical use for the amount of electromagnetic radiation they emit.

Imaging

• Radioisotopes are used in the medical field to diagnose a large number of injuries and disorders. Nuclear medicine imaging techniques like Positron Emission Topography can track the emission of radiation from radioisotopes that have been introduced to injured areas; this is usually done via injection. The data is then taken and compiled into an image for doctors to see inside of you in a noninvasive way. It is a common method for detecting and evaluating cancers.

Treatments

• Radionuclide therapy utilizes radiation from radioactive isotopes like cobalt-60 and iodine-131. Teletherapy uses gamma radiation to form a virtual knife that can be used in surgeries to remove internal tumors or treat external cancers. Different isotopes are used for treating certain cancers in different areas of the body.

Digestion

• Radioisotopes have a known half life, the rate at which they give off radiation until they reach half of their atomic mass. Using this information, doctors can fix radioactive isotopes to vitamins or other digestible materials. From here they can track the rate and extent of nutrient absorption in the body. This data is critical in treating patients with gastrointestinal or malnutrition disorders.

Sterilization

• Radioisotopes are used in a process called food irradiation which blasts food and other biological goods like meat, wool and animal skins with Cobalt-60-produced gamma rays. These rays kill harmful bacteria and parasites to increase safety and shelf life of biological products, especially when transporting across international borders.