ESPA rare, fleeting element may become medicine’s most precise cancer killer. Texas A&M scientists have unlocked new potential for astatine-211, a rare and short-lived element, as a highly precise cancer-fighting isotope. Its alpha emissions destroy tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue, making it ideal for targeted therapy.
Astatine is the rarest naturally occurring element on Earth and among the least explored in the periodic table. True to its Greek name meaning "unstable," it exists only fleetingly in nature. Yet scientists at Texas A&M University have found a way to harness its potential. Using cyclotron beams and advanced chemical techniques, they have created a method to produce, isolate, and ship astatine-211 (At-211), an isotope that -- despite its instability and short 7.2-hour half-life -- shows remarkable promise in targeted cancer treatment.
At-211 is often called the "perfect" or "Goldilocks" isotope because it can deliver just the right amount of radiation to destroy cancer cells while leaving the surrounding tissue unharmed. This breakthrough isotope has demonstrated strong potential against blood cancers, ovarian tumors, and certain brain cancers. Within the Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute, scientists are producing At-211 using the K150 cyclotron with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Isotope Program. Since 2023, Texas A&M has been one of only two national suppliers of astatine for targeted cancer therapy through the National Isotope Development Center (NIDC) and its University Isotope Network.
Know more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251111010008.htm
