Metallacarboranes for proton therapy using research accelerators: a pilot study

The feasibility of using an external beam microprobe facility to explore the biological effects generated by proton irradiation in cultured cells is demonstrated. An in-air irradiation set-up was developed that allows energy tuning and enables estimating the flux and dose deposition in cells. A pilot study on the effect of boron-rich metallacarboranes as radiosensitizers towards human glioblastoma cells was carried out. This served as a proof of concept for the enhancement effect of proton irradiation induced by the presence of boron, which undergoes a nuclear B-11(p,alpha)alpha alpha reaction. Details of the experimental set-up and physical parameters measured are presented. Also, preliminary results of cell's irradiation and uncertainties are discussed anticipating the advances that have been achieved by our group in this field.

Automated summary

The feasibility of using an external beam microprobe facility to explore the biological effects of proton irradiation in cultured cells is demonstrated. An in-air irradiation set-up was developed that allows energy tuning and estimation of flux and dose deposition. A pilot study on the effect of boron-rich metallacarboranes as radiosensitizers towards human glioblastoma cells was carried out, providing proof of concept for the enhancement effect of proton irradiation induced by the presence of boron.