Radioactive metal ions

Radioactive metal ions, or radionuclides, are unstable atomic species that emit ionizing radiation (alpha, beta, or gamma rays) as they undergo radioactive decay [CDC, 2018]. In a pharmacological context, these ions are not traditional biological targets like receptors or enzymes; instead, they are the primary targets of decorporation therapy in cases of internal contamination [StatPearls, 2023]. When radioactive metals such as plutonium, americium, or cesium enter the body, they can distribute to various tissues and cause severe damage by ionizing biological molecules, leading to DNA strand breaks and the formation of free radicals [NIH, 2021]. This internal irradiation significantly increases the risk of acute radiation sickness and long-term health issues, including bone marrow suppression and cancer [WHO, 2020]. Therapeutic intervention involves the use of chelating agents, which are molecules that bind to the metal ions to form stable, excretable complexes [FDA, 2004]. By facilitating the removal of these ions through the kidneys or gastrointestinal tract, these drugs reduce the total radiation dose absorbed by the patient and mitigate the associated pathological effects.

Other names

RadionuclidesRadioisotopesRadioactive heavy metalsActinidesLanthanides

Chelation and decorporation: The drug acts as a ligand that coordinates with the radioactive metal ion to form a stable, water-soluble complex, which is then cleared from the systemic circulation via renal filtration or biliary excretion [StatPearls, 2023].