Folate Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes and their Selective Uptake by Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells: Implications for their Use as Boron Carriers in Clinical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is increasingly being used in the treatment of several aggressive cancers, including cerebral glioblastoma multiforme. The main requirement for this therapy is selective targeting of tumor cells by sufficient quantities of<...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2008-01-01
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| Series: | Nanoscale Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11671-008-9210-9 |
| _version_ | 1827882946190639104 |
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| author | Ciofani Gianni Raffa Vittoria Menciassi Arianna Cuschieri Alfred |
| author_facet | Ciofani Gianni Raffa Vittoria Menciassi Arianna Cuschieri Alfred |
| author_sort | Ciofani Gianni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is increasingly being used in the treatment of several aggressive cancers, including cerebral glioblastoma multiforme. The main requirement for this therapy is selective targeting of tumor cells by sufficient quantities of<sup>10</sup>B atoms required for their capture/irradiation with low-energy thermal neutrons. The low content of boron targeting species in glioblastoma multiforme accounts for the difficulty in selective targeting of this very malignant cerebral tumor by this radiation modality. In the present study, we have used for the first time boron nitride nanotubes as carriers of boron atoms to overcome this problem and enhance the selective targeting and ablative efficacy of BNCT for these tumors. Following their dispersion in aqueous solution by noncovalent coating with biocompatible poly-<smcaps>l</smcaps>-lysine solutions, boron nitride nanotubes were functionalized with a fluorescent probe (quantum dots) to enable their tracking and with folic acid as selective tumor targeting ligand. Initial in vitro studies have confirmed substantive and selective uptake of these nanovectors by glioblastoma multiforme cells, an observation which confirms their potential clinical application for BNCT therapy for these malignant cerebral tumors.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:04:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a9f86bd9877f4a1a8482b2266a8fa869 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1931-7573 1556-276X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:04:30Z |
| publishDate | 2008-01-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanoscale Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-a9f86bd9877f4a1a8482b2266a8fa8692023-08-02T06:23:37ZengSpringerOpenNanoscale Research Letters1931-75731556-276X2008-01-0142113121Folate Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes and their Selective Uptake by Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells: Implications for their Use as Boron Carriers in Clinical Boron Neutron Capture TherapyCiofani GianniRaffa VittoriaMenciassi AriannaCuschieri Alfred<p>Abstract</p> <p>Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is increasingly being used in the treatment of several aggressive cancers, including cerebral glioblastoma multiforme. The main requirement for this therapy is selective targeting of tumor cells by sufficient quantities of<sup>10</sup>B atoms required for their capture/irradiation with low-energy thermal neutrons. The low content of boron targeting species in glioblastoma multiforme accounts for the difficulty in selective targeting of this very malignant cerebral tumor by this radiation modality. In the present study, we have used for the first time boron nitride nanotubes as carriers of boron atoms to overcome this problem and enhance the selective targeting and ablative efficacy of BNCT for these tumors. Following their dispersion in aqueous solution by noncovalent coating with biocompatible poly-<smcaps>l</smcaps>-lysine solutions, boron nitride nanotubes were functionalized with a fluorescent probe (quantum dots) to enable their tracking and with folic acid as selective tumor targeting ligand. Initial in vitro studies have confirmed substantive and selective uptake of these nanovectors by glioblastoma multiforme cells, an observation which confirms their potential clinical application for BNCT therapy for these malignant cerebral tumors.</p>http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11671-008-9210-9Boron nitride nanotubesFolateGlioblastoma multiformeBoron neutron capture therapy |
| spellingShingle | Ciofani Gianni Raffa Vittoria Menciassi Arianna Cuschieri Alfred Folate Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes and their Selective Uptake by Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells: Implications for their Use as Boron Carriers in Clinical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Nanoscale Research Letters Boron nitride nanotubes Folate Glioblastoma multiforme Boron neutron capture therapy |
| title | Folate Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes and their Selective Uptake by Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells: Implications for their Use as Boron Carriers in Clinical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy |
| title_full | Folate Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes and their Selective Uptake by Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells: Implications for their Use as Boron Carriers in Clinical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy |
| title_fullStr | Folate Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes and their Selective Uptake by Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells: Implications for their Use as Boron Carriers in Clinical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Folate Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes and their Selective Uptake by Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells: Implications for their Use as Boron Carriers in Clinical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy |
| title_short | Folate Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes and their Selective Uptake by Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells: Implications for their Use as Boron Carriers in Clinical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy |
| title_sort | folate functionalized boron nitride nanotubes and their selective uptake by glioblastoma multiforme cells implications for their use as boron carriers in clinical boron neutron capture therapy |
| topic | Boron nitride nanotubes Folate Glioblastoma multiforme Boron neutron capture therapy |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11671-008-9210-9 |
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