Carboranes immobilization on Fe3O4 nanocomposites for targeted delivery

Abstract Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is promising method of cancer treatment. Success implementation of BNCT depends on effectiveness of selective delivery of boron-rich compound into the cancer cells. In this paper, carboranes with 10 boron atoms per molecule were attached to superparamagnetic nanoparticles for realization of potential magnetic drug targeting. Isopropyl-o-carborane has been successfully immobilized on Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) via covalent bonding with pre-modified surface by tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and (3-glycidylpropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPTMS). Structure, morphology, element and chemical composition of prepared Fe3O4 NPs were studied by FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDA), dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS), Mossbauer spectroscopy and vibrational magnetometer system (VMS). The biocompatibility was evaluated in vitro using different human cancer cell lines: HeLa (cervical cancer cell), PC-3 (prostate cancer cell), HT-29 (colon cancer cell), BxPC-3 (pancreatic cancer cell). Fibroblasts like cells of L929 obtained from subcutaneous adipose tissue of mouse were used as normal cells. Results indicate success immobilization of carboranes on Fe3O4 NPs with low cytotoxicity in concentration range 1–200 μg/mL, and potential to use them as carriers for BNCT.