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

TY - JOUR

T1 - Folate Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes and their Selective Uptake by Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells

T2 - Implications for their Use as Boron Carriers in Clinical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

AU - Ciofani, Gianni

AU - Raffa, Vittoria

AU - Menciassi, Arianna

AU - Cuschieri, Alfred

PY - 2009/2

Y1 - 2009/2

N2 - 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 B-10 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-l-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.

AB - 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 B-10 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-l-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.

KW - Boron nitride nanotubes

KW - Folate

KW - Glioblastoma multiforme

KW - Boron neutron capture therapy

KW - TARGETED DELIVERY

KW - CARBON NANOTUBES

KW - ELASTIC-MODULUS

KW - IN-VITRO

KW - CANCER

KW - NANOPARTICLES

KW - ACCUMULATION

KW - RESISTANCE

KW - RADIATION

KW - PROSPECTS

U2 - 10.1007/s11671-008-9210-9

DO - 10.1007/s11671-008-9210-9

M3 - Article

SN - 1931-7573

VL - 4

SP - 113

EP - 121

JO - Nanoscale Research Letters

JF - Nanoscale Research Letters

IS - 2

ER -