Biodistribution of calcium fructoborate as a targeting agent for boron neutron capture therapy in an experimental model of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Boron neutrons capture therapy (BNCT) involves optional agglomeration of 10B carriers in further neutron irradiation to the tumor tissue. The possibility of a Calcium Fructoborate (CFB) mediated by liposome has been proposed previously as boron carriers for the transfer of boron compound to the tumor tissue. Furthermore, for developing the use of a carrier, folate has been considered as an appropriate substrate with the potential to attach to tumor receptors on the surface of certain cancer cells compared with normal cells. The main problem associated with breast cancer is that the tumor and normal cells are mixed without a map of the boron accumulation. The present study aimed to examine boron biodistribution in the breast cancer model in BALB/c mice employing PEGylated liposome-encapsulated CFB formulations that were previously obtained. The predetermined boron concentration was obtained to be 20 mg 10B/g to 35 mg 10B/g. Also, the samples of the tumor tissue, such as the liver, muscle, heart, lung, spleen, skin, stomach, brain, bone, and kidney were taken as post-administration at different times to measure the boron content by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis. The results demonstrated the existence of GLUT-5 expression as an erythrocyte-type glucose transporter protein in a wide range of tumor cells. In summary, the results of the present study suggest the therapeutic potential of boron-bearing liposomes given large boron biodistribution values.