MAECI Project -Italy China
Synthesis and evaluation of new theranostic agents for a breakthrough in neutron capture therapy
Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy - Neuboron Medtech Ltd - Xiamen, Cina
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WITH THE SUPPORT OF
WITH THE SUPPORT OF
General information
General information
Targeted therapies are a focus of cancer research today. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a binary therapy that exploits the properties of boron-10 to deliver a high dose of radiation specifically to cancer cells. In BNCT, a boron compound is administered to the patient that accumulates in the tumor cells, followed by the irradiation with a beam of low-energy neutrons, which are captured by boron nuclei through a nuclear reaction called “capture,” forming an excited boron-11 atom that releases alpha particles and Li ions, which are highly destructive to biological tissues at short range, selectively leading to the death of boron-containing cells.
Targeted therapies are a focus of cancer research today. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a binary therapy that exploits the properties of boron-10 to deliver a high dose of radiation specifically to cancer cells. In BNCT, a boron compound is administered to the patient that accumulates in the tumor cells, followed by the irradiation with a beam of low-energy neutrons, which are captured by boron nuclei through a nuclear reaction called “capture,” forming an excited boron-11 atom that releases alpha particles and Li ions, which are highly destructive to biological tissues at short range, selectively leading to the death of boron-containing cells.
BNCT has several potential advantages over other forms of cancer treatment in that the boron compound is selectively absorbed by the cancer cells and thus the radiation resulting from the capture is delivered to the cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Accelerators that produce low-energy neutron beams for BNCT are already available in Japan, China, Finland, and others are being installed and will soon support clinical trials and patient treatment.
BNCT has several potential advantages over other forms of cancer treatment in that the boron compound is selectively absorbed by the cancer cells and thus the radiation resulting from the capture is delivered to the cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Accelerators that produce low-energy neutron beams for BNCT are already available in Japan, China, Finland, and others are being installed and will soon support clinical trials and patient treatment.
One of the main challenges for BCNT today is the selective delivery of boron compounds to cancer cells, and new targeting systems are urgently needed, requiring close collaboration between chemists and biologists.
One of the main challenges for BCNT today is the selective delivery of boron compounds to cancer cells, and new targeting systems are urgently needed, requiring close collaboration between chemists and biologists.
In addition, a desirable property of a BNCT agent is the ability to monitor it in real time during therapy, allowing optimization of treatment planning.
In addition, a desirable property of a BNCT agent is the ability to monitor it in real time during therapy, allowing optimization of treatment planning.
The project will focus on incorporating 10-B into small molecules and nanoparticles of natural origin to target the boron compound more selectively in cancer cells.
The project will focus on incorporating 10-B into small molecules and nanoparticles of natural origin to target the boron compound more selectively in cancer cells.
The boron compounds will be designed to allow their distribution to be tracked in the body.
The boron compounds will be designed to allow their distribution to be tracked in the body.
HOW IT WORKS
Cancerous tissues contain both cancer cells (darker in the image) and healthy cells.
Cancerous tissues contain both cancer cells (darker in the image) and healthy cells.
When the patient is treated with the boron compound, represented by the pink dots, it selectively accumulates in the tumor cells
When the patient is treated with the boron compound, represented by the pink dots, it selectively accumulates in the tumor cells
The tumor is then irradiated with a neutron flux that gives fission reactions where there is more boron, thus selectively in the tumor cells.
The tumor is then irradiated with a neutron flux that gives fission reactions where there is more boron, thus selectively in the tumor cells.
Cancer cells are eliminated, sparing healthy cells.
Cancer cells are eliminated, sparing healthy cells.
Università del Piemonte Orientale
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