Metallacarboranes for proton therapy using research accelerators: a pilot study

Abstract

Abstract The feasibility of using an external beam microprobe facility to explore the biological effects generated by proton irradiation in cultured cells is demonstrated. An in-air irradiation set-up was developed that allows energy tuning and enables estimating the flux and dose deposition in cells. A pilot study on the effect of boron-rich metallacarboranes as radiosensitizers towards human glioblastoma cells was carried out. This served as a proof of concept for the enhancement effect of proton irradiation induced by the presence of boron, which undergoes a nuclear 11B(p,α)αα reaction. Details of the experimental set-up and physical parameters measured are presented. Also, preliminary results of cell’s irradiation and uncertainties are discussed anticipating the advances that have been achieved by our group in this field.