title: An improved neutron autoradiography set-up for (10)B concentration measurements in biological samples.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a binary hadrontherapy which exploits the neutron capture reaction in boron, together with a selective uptake of boronated substances by the neoplastic tissue. There is increasing evidence that future improvements in clinical BNCT will be triggered by the discovery of new boronated compounds, with higher selectivity for the tumor with respect to clinically used sodium borocaptate (BSH) and boronophenylalanine (BPA).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Therefore, a (10)B quantification technique for biological samples is needed in order to evaluate the performance of new boronated formulations.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article describes an improved neutron autoradiography set-up employing radiation sensitive films where the latent tracks are made visible by proper etching conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Calibration curves for both liquid and tissue samples were obtained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained calibration curves were adopted to set-up a mechanism to point out boron concentration in the whole sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Italy; National Institute of Nuclear Physics, INFN, Section of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Postuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Italy; National Institute of Nuclear Physics, INFN, Section of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Silva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bortolussi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Italy; National Institute of Nuclear Physics, INFN, Section of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Protti
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Italy; National Institute of Nuclear Physics, INFN, Section of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry 'UgoSchi' & CSGI, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciani
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry 'UgoSchi' & CSGI, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ristori
authors.affiliation: DISCAFF, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Panza
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Clinico-Chirurgiche, Diagnostiche e Pediatriche, Universit degli Studidi Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Clinico-Chirurgiche, Diagnostiche e Pediatriche, Universit degli Studidi Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cansolino
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Italy; National Institute of Nuclear Physics, INFN, Section of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altieri
keywords: Boron Neutron Capture Therapy; Boron concentration; CR-39; Neutron autoradiography