A New Boron-10 Delivery Agent for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy: Fluorescent Boron-10 Embedded Nanodiamonds

TL;DR

This paper introduces fluorescent boron-10 embedded nanodiamonds as a novel, biocompatible delivery agent for boron neutron capture therapy, enabling real-time tracking and potentially improving cancer treatment efficacy.

Contribution

The study develops a new boron-10 delivery agent using nanodiamonds with fluorescence for real-time tracking, combining optical visibility with boron transport capabilities.

Findings

Successfully fabricated boron-10 embedded nanodiamonds with fluorescence

Demonstrated biocompatibility and imaging capabilities

Potential for enhanced boron delivery in cancer therapy

Abstract

Boron neutron capture therapy is a powerful anti-cancer treatment, the success of which depends heavily on the boron delivery agent. Enabling the real-time tracing of delivery agents as they move through the body is crucial to the further development of boron neutron therapy. In this study, we fabricate highly bio-compatible boron-10 embedded nanodiamonds using physical ion implantation in conjunction with a two-step annealing process. The red fluorescence of the nanodiamonds allows their use in fluorescence microscopy and in vivo imaging systems, thereby making it possible to conduct tracking in real time. The proposed fluorescent boron-10 embedded nanodiamonds, combining optical visibility and boron-10 transport capability, are a promising boron delivery agent suitable for a wide range of biomedical applications.