BNCT Plus Luminescence: New Paradigm for Boron-Containing Drug Design

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an emerging modality for cancer treatment, where the development of advanced boron-containing drugs is crucial. Recent years have seen the application of boron-containing drugs exhibiting high boron content, excellent tumor-targeting ability, low toxicity, and good biocompatibility in BNCT for diverse cancers, including skin, breast, and brain tumors. Nevertheless, challenges persist in boron-containing drug development, notably the inability to monitor drug distribution in vivo, which impedes the precise application of neutron irradiation. Fluorescence imaging, recognized for its capacity to detect biomolecules in real time and multiple dimensions, has emerged as a promising solution. Consequently, researchers have proposed designing "luminescent boron-containing drugs" to enable precise spatial and concentration mapping via fluorescence imaging. This chapter provides a concise overview of BNCT, boron-containing drugs, and fluorescence imaging, followed by a detailed discussion on molecular design strategies and applications of photo-functional boron-containing drugs for integrated imaging diagnosis and BNCT treatment. Within this framework, advanced boron-containing drugs incorporating fluorescence imaging capabilities-such as near-infrared, two-photon absorption, and fluorescence lifetime imaging-are being developed. With ongoing research efforts, fluorescence-imaging boron-containing drugs hold significant potential for future clinical BNCT, ultimately benefiting patients.