Abstract
The successful treatment of cancer by BNCT requires the selective delivery of relatively high concentration of 10B compounds to malignant tumor tissue. When TF-PEG liposomes were injected, we observed a prolonged residence time in the circulation and low uptake by the RES in colon26 tumor-bearing mice, resulting in enhanced accumulation of 10B into the solid tumor tissue. TF-PEG liposomes maintained a high 10B level in the tumor for at least 72 hours after injection. Intravenous injection of TF-PEG liposomes can increase the tumor retention of 10B atoms, which were introduced by receptor-mediated endocytosis of liposomes after binding, causing tumor growth suppression in vivo upon thermal neutron irradiation. These results suggest that BSI-I-encapsulating TF-PEG liposomes could be useful as a new intracellular targeting carrier in BNCT therapy for cancer.
