title: Preparation and in vitro evaluation of B-lipiodol as a boron delivery agent for neutron capture therapy of hepatoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We prepared boron containing lipiodol (B-lipiodol), elucidated the retention of B-lipiodol in hepatoma cells and evaluated the in vitro cellular toxicity of B-lipiodol for neutron capture therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human hepatoma HepG2 cells were used to examine the uptake and retention of B-lipiodol. Light microscopes were used to examine the interaction and retention of B-lipiodol globules in individual hepatoma cells. Boron and lipiodol concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy and neutron activation analysis, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The boron concentration in B-lipiodol drug could reach 2500 ppm. B-lipiodol could be stably retained in serum and culture medium. HepG2 cells appeared proficiently at internalization and persistent retention of B-lipiodol. The boron concentration reached 3.5 micrograms/10(6) cells without approaching saturation at 48 h treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatoma cells could actively uptake B-lipiodol and a sufficient amount of boron was retained inside the HepG2 cells which could be used for neutron capture therapy.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Science and Technology Development Center, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, Republic of China. fichou@nstdc.nthu.edu.tw
authors.forename: F I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kai
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001895:Boron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004705:Endocytosis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D007554:Isotopes; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D007554:Isotopes; D007459:Iodized Oil; D001895:Boron