Boron-Rich Nanoparticles As Potential Carriers In Boron-Neutron Capture Therapy

The basis of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is the selective delivery of boron to tumor cells and then irradiation of the affected area with a neutron beam. As a result, there is a fission of the nucleus of the boron isotope, which causes the release of energy to destroy cancer cells. Although BNCT related research has been going on since the 1950s, it remains an experimental therapy. It is related, inter alia, with the lack of carriers enabling quick and effective introduction of 1 degrees B into the tumor environment. Thus, a widely discussed issue and one of the main challenges for the development of BNCT is the search for selective compounds that provide the required amount of this element. An interesting aspect is research on nanometric structures such as liposomes containing boron-rich compounds or inorganic nanoparticles - boron carbide or boron nitride. Due to the high content of boron and the possibility of surface modification of these nanoparticles, they may prove to be an extremely attractive tool in targeted BNCT. An equally important problem of this therapy is the development of precise connections between the neutron source, the specificity of the beam and the type of carrier used. In this paper, we indicate the high potential of boron-rich compounds as carriers in targeted boron-neutron capture therapy.