Boron carbide nanoparticles for boron neutron capture therapy

Area of Science:

• Nanomedicine
• Biomaterials Science
• Radiotherapy

Background:

• Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) relies heavily on effective boron delivery agents.
• Boron carbide (B4C) nanoparticles offer high boron density but require surface modification for biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To chemically modify B4C nanoparticles with folic acid (FA) via polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers.
• To evaluate the physicochemical properties and biological performance of modified B4C nanoparticles.
• To assess the in vivo safety and biodistribution of the most promising B4C-based agent.

Main Methods:

• Functionalization of B4C nanoparticles with γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), FA, and varying PEG lengths (2K, 5K).
• Characterization of physicochemical properties and biological assays (hemolysis, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake).
• In vivo safety and biodistribution studies in mice using ICP-OES analysis.

Main Results:

• Modified nanoparticles (B4C-APTES-FA, B4C-APTES-PEG2K-FA, B4C-APTES-PEG5K-FA) were successfully synthesized.
• B4C-APTES-PEG2K-FA demonstrated satisfactory biocompatibility and cellular uptake.
• In vivo studies showed high boron accumulation in tumors (50 μg/g) with favorable tumor-to-tissue ratios (>3) after 24h.

Conclusions:

• Chemically modified B4C nanoparticles, particularly B4C-APTES-PEG2K-FA, are promising candidates for BNCT.
• The high boron content, biocompatibility, and tumor-targeting ability support their therapeutic potential.
• Surface modification strategies can enhance the utility of B4C nanoparticles in cancer therapy.