• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2021

For successful boron neutron caputre therapy, it is essential to develop a boron drug with a selective accumulation capacity for tumors. In particular, in order to apply boron neutron caputre therapy to brain tumors, drugs with good blood-brain barrier penetration are required. In this study, two low-molecular-weight boron compounds were introduced as brain tumor boron neutron caputre therapy drugs, and their physical and biological efficacy were evaluated. Among them, B2 showed good blood-brain barrier permeability and a high brain/blood ratio. From these results, it is expected that B2 can be used as a useful boron drug for boron neutron caputre therapy in brain tumors.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2022

Boron neutron capture therapy is a precision treatment technology that selectively destroys only tumor cells by irradiating thermal neutrons after accumulating boron drugs in tumor cells. Brain tumor is difficult to diagnose and treat due to the low permeability and targeting of drugs caused by the blood-brain-barrier. Crossing the BBB is essential for drug delivery to the brain. In this study, we designed and synthesized a novel compound incorporating benzothiazole to develop a boron drug with high BBB permeability and selectivity for brain tumor cells. In addition, their potential as a BNCT drugs was evaluated.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.2072-2077
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of sensing changes in a tumor during boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) using a Monte Carlo simulation tool. In the simulation, an epi-thermal neutron source and a water phantom including boron uptake regions (BURs) were simulated. Moreover, this simulation also included a detector for positron emission tomography (PET) scanning and an adaptively-designed collimator (ADC) for PET. After the PET scanning of the water phantom, including the 511 keV source in the BUR, the ADC was positioned in the PET's gantry. Single prompt gamma rays were collected through the ADC during neutron irradiation. Then, single prompt gamma ray-based tomography images of different sized tumors were acquired by a four-step process. Both the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and tumor size were analyzed from each step image. From this analysis, we identified a decreasing trend of both the SNR and signal intensity as the tumor size decreased, which was confirmed in all images. In conclusion, we confirmed the feasibility of sensing changes in a tumor during BNCT using PET and an ADC through Monte Carlo simulation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.2139-2142
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• 2011

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.189-195
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• 2017

Gel dosimeters have unique advantages in comparison with other dosimeters. Until now, these gels have been used in different radiotherapy techniques as a reliable dosimetric tool. Because dose distribution measurement is an important factor for appropriate treatment planning in different radiotherapy techniques, in this study, we evaluated the ability of the N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) polymer gel to record the dose distribution resulting from the mixed neutron-gamma field of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). In this regard, a head phantom containing NIPAM gel was irradiated using the Tehran Research Reactor BNCT beam line, and then by a magnetic resonance scanner. Eventually, the $R_2$ maps were obtained in different slices of the phantom by analyzing T2-weighted images. The results show that NIPAM gel has a suitable potential for recording three-dimensional dose distribution in mixed neutron-gamma field dosimetry.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2020

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) has the advantage of selectively removing cancer cells ingesting boron compounds. In this study, the benefits for treatment time and boron compound injection dose were compared between current neutron sources and a high current neutron sources to be developed in near future. The time-activity curve (TAC) of GBM (Glioblastoma) for one bolus injection was obtained by applying modified 3 compartment model. The treatment time was determined for an accelerator-based neutron sources at the present time and a high current accelerator based neutron source to be developed in the near future. In the case of the double amount of IAEA-recommended neutron flux, the treatment time was shortened to 15 minutes. In the case of high current accelerators, which are five times the amount of IAEA-recommended neutron flux, the irradiation time is within 5 minutes. The use of a high current accelerator based neutron source in BNCT is advantageous in terms of treatment time. In addition, it can increase the efficiency of use of neutrons and reduce the boron compound injection dose to patients, thus reducing pharmacological toxicity.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2023

For over 50 years, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has been steadily developed for treating various cancers. This is a non-invasive, selective, and targeted radiotherapy wherein boron-rich molecules accumulate at the tumor site. Liposomal vesicles have become a popular and effective drug delivery system for BNCT, with strategies including surface decoration, bilayer integration, and hydrophilic core encapsulation. This review highlights the state-of-the-art uses of liposomes in BNCT and elucidates a new perspective where BNCT can be used with radiotracer guidance in all-in-one delivery systems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2006.08a
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• pp.131-131
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• 2006

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.626-636
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• 2021

Boron-neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a cancer treatment method that exploits the high neutron reactivity of boron. Monitoring the prompt gamma rays (PGs) produced during neutron irradiation is essential for ensuring the accuracy and safety of BNCT. We investigate the imaging of PGs produced by the boron-neutron capture reaction through Monte Carlo simulations of a gamma camera with a SrI₂ scintillator and parallel-hole collimator. GAGG scintillator is also used for a comparison. The simulations allow the shapes of the energy spectra, which exhibit a peak at 478 keV, to be determined along with the PG images from a boron-water phantom. It is found that increasing the size of the water phantom results in a greater number of image counts and lower contrast. Additionally, a higher septal penetration ratio results in poorer image quality, and a SrI₂ scintillator results in higher image contrast. Thus, we can simulate the BNCT process and obtain an energy spectrum with a reasonable shape, as well as suitable PG images. Both GAGG and SrI₂ crystals are suitable for PG imaging during BNCT. However, for higher imaging quality, SrI₂ and a collimator with a lower septal penetration ratio should be utilized.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.58-61
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• 1999