Radionuclide-coated particulate material

1. A method of manufacturing a particulate material comprising a radionuclide coated inorganic, low density core, wherein said method comprises the steps of: coating a radionuclide onto said core by the process of sputter coating, characterized in that the sputter coating process is carried out on a vibrating table.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the frequency and amplitude of a vibration of the table are respectively about 10 to 500 Hz and between about 0.01 mm to 1.0 mm.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the particulate material comprises a wire or seed in the size range of from 100 microns to 200 centimeters.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inorganic core comprises at least 75% SiO 2 .

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the radionuclide is yttrium-90.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the density of the inorganic core is less than 2.5 g/cc.

7. A particulate material comprising a radionuclide coated inorganic low density core produced by the method of claim 1 .

8. The particulate material according to claim 7 , wherein the inorganic core comprises a microsphere having a diameter in the range of from 5 to 200 microns.

9. The particulate material according to claim 7 , wherein the inorganic core comprises a wire or seed in the size range of from 100 microns to 5 centimeters.

10. The particulate material of claim 7 , wherein the inorganic core comprises at least 75% SiO 2 .

11. The particulate material of claim 7 , wherein the inorganic core comprises at least 90%, SiO 2 .

12. The particulate material of claim 7 , wherein the density of the inorganic core is less than 2.5 g/cc.

13. A method of radiation therapy comprising administering to a patient a particulate material comprising the radionuclide coated inorganic low density core of claim 7 .

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the radionuclide is yttrium-90.

15. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the radiation therapy comprises treatment of a primary or secondary liver cancer.

16. The particulate material according to claim 7 , wherein the radionuclide is yttrium-90.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the density of the inorganic core is less than 2.2 g/cc.

18. The particulate material of claim 7 , wherein the inorganic core comprises at least 95% SiO 2 .

19. The particulate material of claim 7 , wherein the density of the inorganic core is less than 2.2 g/cc.