47Sc production for medical applications: cross-section optimization with genetic algorithms

Abstract

Scandium-47 is a promising theranostic radionuclide in nuclear medicine, suitable for both diagnostic imaging and targeted radiotherapy. Among its production routes, the 49Ti(p,x)47Sc reaction has only recently been investigated through cross-section measurements. This work models and optimizes 47Sc production via proton irradiation of enriched 49Ti using the TALYS nuclear reaction code. A genetic algorithm (GA) is employed to explore a 12-parameter space, refining level-density inputs to improve agreement with newly measured experimental data. Results show that default TALYS predictions overestimate 47Sc and 48Sc yields, while GA optimization significantly enhances model accuracy across multiple reaction products and provides reliable simulations for yields and radionuclidic purity (RNP) of the production route. The improved reliability allows to deem the reaction unsuitable for direct production in clinics due to low RNP. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of GA-driven optimization in nuclear modeling, offering a robust framework to support theoretical developments and guide radionuclide production for medical applications.