In vivo polymerization of the dopamine-borate melanin precursor: A proof-of-concept regarding boron neutron-capture therapy for melanoma

The 10boron neutron-capture therapy (BNCT) is an emerging antitumoral method that shows increasing biomedical interest. BNCT based on the selective accumulation of isotope within tumor, which then irradiated with low-energy thermal neutrons, generating nuclear fission produces 7lithium, 4helium, and γ rays. Simple catechol-borate esters have been rather overlooked as precursors melanin biosynthesis, therefore, a proof-of-concept approach for using dopamine-borate (DABO) suitable boron-containing candidate potential presented here. DABO can spontaneously oxidize autopolymerize in vitro, giving soluble, eumelanin-like brown-black poly-DABO product. Melanotic melanoma cell cultures treated 1 mM 24 48 h were viable showed no signs damage or death. stability possible trans-esterification shortly discussed. Chemical calculations quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) analysis agent BPA indicated they should be permeant accumulate lysosomes melanosomes. Molecular modeling allows visualization both precursor structure borate derivative proposed catechol-porphycene model eumelanin, showing interesting features from molecular orbital calculations. main difference between other agents, such BPA, it not boronic acid nor boron cluster. This simple ester (protected oxidation blackening) could administrated to living cells organisms, biosynthesis boron-melanin melanocytes lead improved BNCT.