抄録
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a minimally invasive cancer treatment that selectively destroys tumor cells through the nuclear reaction between thermal neutrons and the stable isotope 10B. Although clinically used boron agents such as L–boronophenylalanine (L–BPA) and mercaptoundecahydrododecaborate (BSH) have shown therapeutic potential, their limited tumor selectivity, short intracellular retention, and formulation difficulties hinder further improvement of BNCT efficacy. To address these challenges, recent advances in drug delivery systems (DDS), particularly nanocarrier–based approaches, have been actively explored. These systems exploit the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect to improve tumor–selective accumulation, solubility, stability, and biodistribution of boron compounds. This review highlights recent progress in supramolecular chemistry–based DDS for BNCT, focusing on biopolymer nanocomplexes, liposomes, and extracellular vesicles (EVs). Overall, these nanostructured supramolecular DDS platforms significantly enhance boron delivery efficiency, tumor selectivity, and BNCT therapeutic performance compared with conventional low–molecular-weight boron agents. The integration of supramolecular design principles with DDS technologies is expected to promote safer, more effective, and personalized BNCT, especially when combined with theranostic strategies for treatment planning and evaluation.
