New Boron Delivery Agents

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiochemistry
• Nanomedicine

Background:

• Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an investigational cancer treatment.
• Effective boron delivery agents are crucial for BNCT efficacy.
• Recent advancements focus on novel boron compounds and delivery systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current research on boron delivery agents for BNCT.
• To highlight advancements discussed at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Workshop on Neutron Capture Therapy.
• To explore the potential of these agents as theranostic tools.

Main Methods:

• Compilation of research presented at the NCI Workshop on Neutron Capture Therapy (April 20-22, 2022).
• Discussion of various boron sources including icosahedral boron clusters.
• Exploration of different carrier molecules: peptides, proteins, porphyrins, dendrimers, polymers, nanoparticles, and liposomes.

Main Results:

• Icosahedral boron clusters are commonly used as the boron source.
• Diverse carriers facilitate targeted delivery and improved pharmacokinetics.
• Labeling with contrast agents enables imaging (PET, SPECT, fluorescence) for boron quantification.

Conclusions:

• Boron delivery agents are advancing for BNCT applications.
• Theranostic capabilities are emerging, allowing simultaneous diagnosis and therapy.
• Continued research is vital for optimizing boron delivery and BNCT outcomes.