Self-assembling A6K peptide nanotubes as a mercaptoundecahydrododecaborate (BSH) delivery system for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT)

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a tumor selective therapy, the effectiveness of which depends on sufficient 10B delivery to and accumulation in tumors. In this study, we used self-assembling A6K peptide nanotubes as boron carriers prepared new agents by simple mixing BSH. BSH has been treat malignant glioma patients clinical trials its drug safety availability have confirmed; however, contribution BNCT efficacy low. nanotube improved two major limitations BSH, including absence intracellular transduction non-specific tissue. Varying mixture ratio produced materials with different morphologies—determined electron microscopy—and efficiencies. We investigated A6K/BSH 1:10 found high uptake no toxicity. Microscopy observation showed localization perinuclear region endosome human cells. The concentration using was almost 10 times higher than that systematic administration via mouse tail vein specific brain model immunohistochemistry pharmacokinetic study. Neutron irradiation cells treated inhibition cell proliferation colony formation assay. provides unique strategy for next generation drugs.