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Remote-Loaded Boron Liposomes: Cell Membrane Interfaces for Enhanced Cellular Association in Boron Neutron Capture
Yuchen Yuan1, Satoshi Okada1,2, Kazuki Miura1,2
1School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Science Tokyo, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa226-8501, Japan.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|July 16, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a new remote loading method for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) liposomes, significantly improving boron encapsulation efficiency. Modified liposomes also showed enhanced cancer cell targeting and therapeutic effectiveness in vitro.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Efficient boron delivery is crucial for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) efficacy.
- Conventional liposomal systems struggle with low encapsulation efficiency (EE), wasting valuable 10B-enriched compounds.
- This limits the practical application of liposomal boron delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient and scalable remote loading strategy for encapsulating boron compounds into liposomes.
- To enhance liposome-cell interactions for improved boron accumulation in cancer cells.
- To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the developed boron-loaded liposomes in vitro.
Main Methods:
- A remote loading strategy utilizing a transmembrane ion gradient was employed to prepare boron-encapsulated liposomes (BLPs).
- BLPs were further modified with cancer cell membranes (MDA-MB-231) to create cell membrane-coated BLPs (CM-BLPs).
- In vitro assays assessed cellular association, boron retention, and therapeutic efficacy following BNCT irradiation compared to controls.
Main Results:
- The remote loading strategy achieved a 42.1% encapsulation efficiency and a boron-to-phospholipid (B/P) ratio of 2.
- CM-BLPs demonstrated significantly enhanced cellular association, with a boron accumulation of 125 ng[B]/106 cells.
- CM-BLPs exhibited superior in vitro therapeutic efficacy compared to unmodified BLPs and 4-borono-l-phenylalanine (BPA).
Conclusions:
- Remote loading is a feasible, practical, and scalable method for efficient boron delivery in BNCT.
- Cell membrane interfaces enhance liposome-cell interactions, improving boron accumulation and therapeutic outcomes.
- This combined strategy offers a promising approach for advancing BNCT applications.
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