Liposome formulations of o-carborane for the boron neutron capture therapy of cancer

Abstract

Based on the promise of liposomes as convenient vehicles for the transport of boronated agents for the boron neutron capture therapy (BCNT) of cancer, this paper reports a method for the formulation and characterisation of stable o-carborane-loaded liposomes (ca. 80-100 nm) of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or 1,2-distearol-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DSPC). Preliminary pharmaceutical characterisation experiments have demonstrated the integrity of both DPPC and DSPC liposomal membranes in serum and in PBS and also indicate that these o-carborane-loaded liposomes are candidate carrier vehicles for further evaluation with a view to exploitation in BNCT.

Keywords: BNCT; Blood brain barrier; Boron neutron capture therapy; Brain tumours; Cancer; Carboranes; Liposomes.