[en] In a previous study, we reported that sodium borocaptate (BSH) uptake was enhanced in combination with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) in vitro. This report investigated the effect of the combination in vivo. In our results, the boron levels in blood and tissues were preserved highly in the BSO +BSH group, in comparison with the BSH only group. BSO has the potential to improve boron uptake in BNCT. (author)

[en] BPA used in BNCT has a similar structure to some essential amino acids and is transported into tumor cells by amino acid transport systems. Previous study groups have tried various techniques of loading BPA to increase intracellular boron concentration. CHO-K1 cells demonstrate system L (LAT1) activity and are suitable for specifying the transport system of a neutral amino acid. In this study, we examined the intracellular accumulation of boron in CHO-K1 cells by amino acid transport control, which involves co-loading with L-type amino acid esters. Intracellular boron accumulation in CHO-K1 cells showed the greatest increased upon co-loading 1.0 mM BPA, with 1.0 mM L-Tyr-O-Et and incubating for 60 min. This increase is caused by activation of a system L amino acid exchanger between BPA and L-Tyr. The amino acid esters are metabolized to amino acids by intracellular hydrolytic enzymes that increase the concentrations of intracellular amino acids and stimulate exchange transportation. We expect that this amino acid transport control will be useful for enhancing intracellular boron accumulation. - Highlights: • We examined optimal L-p-boronophenylalanine (BPA) loading in CHO-K1 cells. • Optimal BPA loading parameters were 1.0 mM and incubation for 60 min. • Intracellular boron accumulation increased upon co-loading BPA with L-Tyr-O-Et. • Optimal L-Tyr-O-Et loading parameters were 1.0 mM and incubation for 60 min. • Co-loading BPA with L-Tyr-O-Et can increase intracellular boron accumulation

[en] The neutron source of BNCT is currently changing from reactor to accelerator, but peripheral facilities such as a dose-planning system and blood boron analysis have still not been established. To evaluate the potential application of particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) for boron measurement in clinical boron neutron capture therapy, boronophenylalanine dissolved within a cell culture medium was measured using PIGE. PIGE detected 18 μgB/mL f-BPA in the culture medium, and all measurements of any given sample were taken within 20 min. Two hours of f-BPA exposure was required to create a boron distribution image. However, even though boron remained in the cells, the boron on the cell membrane could not be distinguished from the boron in the cytoplasm. - Highlights: • PIGE was evaluated for measuring blood boron concentration during clinical BNCT. • PIGE detected 18 μgB/mL f-BPA in culture medium. • All measurements of any given sample were taken within 20 min. • Two hours of f-BPA exposure is required to create boron distribution image by PIGE. • Boron on the cell membrane could not be distinguished from boron in the cytoplasm.

[en] Highlights: • Preparation methods of liposomes encapsulating BSH were optimized. • Various encapsulation methods and concentrations of BSH and lipid were examined. • Liposomes prepared by this method encapsulated a high amount of boron. • The liposomes have extremely high stability in vitro. To optimize the preparation methods for liposomes encapsulating mercaptoundecahydrododecaborate (BSH), we examined BSH and lipid concentrations that increased the boron content in liposomes. We improved the BSH encapsulation efficiency and boron content of the liposomes from 4.2 to 45.9 % and 9.5–54.3 μg, respectively, by changing the lipid concentration from 10 to 150 mg/mL. Notably, the boron content increased significantly from 26.2 μg to 326.3 μg at a constant lipid concentration of 30 mg/mL with increased BSH concentrations.