Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science
Currently, technetium-99m is used in medical diagnostics such as SPECT. Rhenium-186, 188 which are homologous elements to technetium, are used in radiation therapy.
Since technetium and rhenium are homologous elements, their chemical properties are similar, and it is possible to synthesize complex with the same ligand. Therefore, it is possible to use complexes with the same ligand for both radiation therapy and diagnostics. However, the challenge is that radiation is not environmentally responsive. In contrast, photoluminescence of complex is environmentally responsive.
Therefore, if we can synthesize complexes that emit both luminescence and radiation, we can utilize the strengths of each and expect various applications.
So, I am currently researching the luminescence of rhenium and technetium complexes to lead to such applications.