Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a suggested treatment for cancer. Species with large amounts of boron-10 are required for an effective BNCT.  Boron nanoparticles contain a large amount of boron atoms making them potentially useful for BNCT, however, they are typically designed for hydrophobic environments.  We have developed a method to prepare the biocompatible boron nanoparticles by modifying their surface with dopamine molecules.  However, these particles possess an irregular shape and a broad size distribution.  More recently, we developed the method for the preparation of boron nanoparticles encapsulated in a silica shell. The silica shell imparts hydrophilicity to the boron nanoparticle and provides a surface that can be further modified with various organic functionalities.  Furthermore, silica encapsulation results in particles that are uniform in shape and size, and are easy to manipulate.  We will describe the preparation of these boron core/ silica shell nanoparticles (B@SiO2 NPs) and their characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDS), and spectrophotometry.

Synthesis of boron core/silica shell (B@SiO<sub>2</sub>) nanoparticles

248th National Meeting (2014)

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Synthesis of boron core/silica shell (B@SiO2) nanoparticles

Synthesis of boron core/silica shell (B@SiO₂) nanoparticles