title: Biocompatibility of functionalized boron phosphate (BPO4) nanoparticles for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) application.
abstract: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a radiotherapy treatment based on the accumulation in the tumor of a (10)B-containing drug and subsequent irradiation with low energy neutrons, which bring about the decay of (10)B to (7)Li and an α particle, causing the death of the neoplastic cell. The effectiveness of BNCT is limited by the low delivery and accumulation of the used boron-containing compounds. Here we report the development and the characterization of BPO4 nanoparticles (NPs) as a novel possible alternative drug for BNCT. An extensive analysis of BPO4 NP biocompatibility was performed using both mature blood cells (erythrocytes, neutrophils and platelets) and a model of hematopoietic progenitor cells. A time- and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity study was performed on neoplastic coloncarcinoma and osteosarcoma cell lines. BPO4 functionalization with folic acid, introduced to improve the uptake by tumor cells, appeared to effectively limit the unwanted effects of NPs on the analyzed blood components.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a radiotherapy treatment modality based on the accumulation of a (10)B-containing drug and subsequent irradiation with low energy neutrons, inducing the decay of (10)B to (7)Li and an α particle, causing neoplastic cell death. This team of authors reports on a folic acid functionalized BPO4 nanoparticle with improved characteristics compared with conventional BNCT approaches, as demonstrated in tumor cell lines, and hopefully to be followed by translational human studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Laboratories of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Achilli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Laboratories of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Annarita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciana
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Laboratories of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Guidetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malara
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Abbonante
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinico-Surgical Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; I.R.C.C.S. S.Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cansolino
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; fI.E.N.I. C.N.R. Unit of Lecco, C.So Promessi Sposi n°29, 23900 Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tomasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balduini
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fagnoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Piercarlo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mustarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Laboratories of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Canobbio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Laboratories of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balduini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Laboratories of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: minetti@unipv.it.
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Minetti
mesh_terms: D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000379:methods; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001896:Boron Compounds; D010710:Phosphates; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: Blood cells; Boron-carrier; Cancer; Erythrocytes; Folic acid; Hemolysis; Nanomaterials; Neutrophils; Platelet aggregation