Radioiodination

Radioiodination is a process used to introduce radioactive isotopes of iodine into molecules or compounds for various biomedical and technical applications. This technique is commonly used to label proteins, peptides, and other biomolecules with radioactive iodine, which enables researchers to study their biological behavior and interactions.

The most widely used radioactive isotope of iodine is iodine-125, with a half-life of 59.4 days, and iodine-131, with a half-life of 8.04 days. I-125 is commonly used for labeling proteins and peptides due to its relatively long half-life and low energy gamma emission. On the other hand, I-131 is often used for therapeutic and imaging purposes in nuclear medicine due to its shorter half-life and higher energy gamma emission.

Radioiodination typically involves the reaction of a molecule or compound with a substance containing radioactive iodine, such as sodium iodide or chlorammine-T. The presence of a reducing agent, such as sodium dithionite or thiosulfate, is necessary to facilitate the exchange of the radioactive isotope with the non-radioactive iodine present in the molecule or compound.

The applications of radioiodination include biomedical research, nuclear medicine, and research into protein structure and function. The use of radioiodination has led to significant advances in understanding the mechanisms of disease and in the development of new treatments for various disorders. Radioiodination also facilitates the study of protein-protein interactions, receptor-ligand binding, and other biological processes that occur within living systems.

Overall, radioiodination is a versatile and widely used technique in biomedical research and technical applications, enabling researchers to study and understand complex biological systems and processes.