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Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.) Oct 2022Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a binary modality that is used to treat a variety of malignancies, using neutrons to irradiate boron-10 (B) nuclei that have... (Review)
Review
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a binary modality that is used to treat a variety of malignancies, using neutrons to irradiate boron-10 (B) nuclei that have entered tumor cells to produce highly linear energy transfer (LET) alpha particles and recoil Li nuclei (B [n, α] Li). Therefore, the most important part in BNCT is to selectively deliver a large number of B to tumor cells and only a small amount to normal tissue. So far, BNCT has been used in more than 2000 cases worldwide, and the efficacy of BNCT in the treatment of head and neck cancer, malignant meningioma, melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma has been confirmed. We collected and collated clinical studies of second-generation boron delivery agents. The combination of different drugs, the mode of administration, and the combination of multiple treatments have an important impact on patient survival. We summarized the critical issues that must be addressed, with the hope that the next generation of boron delivery agents will overcome these challenges.
Topics: Humans; Boron Neutron Capture Therapy; Boron; Brain Neoplasms; Melanoma; Head and Neck Neoplasms
PubMed: 36290899
DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29100622 -
Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine... Dec 2020Boron is a trace element that plays an important role in numerous biological functions, including calcium metabolism, growth and maintenance of bone tissue. However,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Boron is a trace element that plays an important role in numerous biological functions, including calcium metabolism, growth and maintenance of bone tissue. However, there are still no precise indications regarding a possible role of boron supplementation, and its amount of supplementation, to maintain bone health. So the aim of this narrative review was to consider the state of the art on the effectiveness of boron supplementation (alone or with other micronutrients) on growth and maintenance of bone in humans through control of calcium, vitamin D and sex steroid hormone metabolism in order to suggest a daily dosage of boron supplementation.
MAIN FINDINGS
This review included 11 eligible studies: 7 regarding the supplementation with boron alone and 4 regarding supplementation with boron and other nutrients. Despite the number of studies considered being low, the number of subjects studied is high (594) and the results are interesting.
CONCLUSIONS
The studies considered in this narrative review have evaluated the positive effectiveness on bone, in humans, through control of calcium, vitamin D and sex steroid hormone metabolism, considering a dietary supplementation of 3 mg/day of boron (alone or with other nutrients); this supplementation is demonstrably useful to support bone health (in order to prevent and maintain adequate bone mineral density), also considering the daily dose of 3 mg is much lower than the Upper Level indicated by EFSA in the daily dose of 10 mg.
Topics: Bone Density; Bone and Bones; Boron; Calcium; Dietary Supplements; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Humans; Male; Vitamin D
PubMed: 32540741
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126577 -
International Journal of Environmental... Aug 2022Boron overabundance in aquatic environment raises severe concerns about the environment and human health because it is toxic to various crops and induces many human and... (Review)
Review
Boron overabundance in aquatic environment raises severe concerns about the environment and human health because it is toxic to various crops and induces many human and animal diseases with long-term consequences. In response to the boron pollution of water resources and the difficulty of eliminating boron from water for production and living purposes, this article summarizes the progress in research on boron removal technology, addressing the following aspects: (1) the reasons for the difficulty of removing boron from water (boron chemistry); (2) ecological/biological toxicity and established regulations; (3) analysis of different existing processes (membrane processes, resin, adsorption, chemical precipitation, (electric) coagulation, extraction, and combined methods) in terms of their mechanisms, effectiveness, and limitations; (4) prospects for future studies and possible improvements in applicability and recyclability. The focus of this paper is thus to provide a comprehensive summary of reported deboronation processes to date, which will definitely identify directions for the development of boron removal technology in the future.
Topics: Adsorption; Boron; Humans; Technology; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Purification
PubMed: 36078388
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710671 -
Cells Dec 2022Boron neutron capture therapy is a low-invasive cancer therapy based on the neutron fission process that occurs upon thermal neutron irradiation of B-containing... (Review)
Review
Boron neutron capture therapy is a low-invasive cancer therapy based on the neutron fission process that occurs upon thermal neutron irradiation of B-containing compounds; this process causes the release of alpha particles that selectively damage cancer cells. Although several clinical studies involving mercaptoundecahydro--dodecaborate and the boronophenylalanine-fructose complex are currently ongoing, the success of this promising anticancer therapy is hampered by the lack of appropriate drug delivery systems to selectively carry therapeutic concentrations of boron atoms to cancer tissues, allowing prolonged boron retention therein and avoiding the damage of healthy tissues. To achieve these goals, numerous research groups have explored the possibility to formulate nanoparticulate systems for boron delivery. In this review. we report the newest developments on boron vehiculating drug delivery systems based on nanoparticles, distinguished on the basis of the type of carrier used, with a specific focus on the formulation aspects.
Topics: Humans; Boron; Neoplasms; Drug Delivery Systems; Boron Neutron Capture Therapy; Neutrons
PubMed: 36552793
DOI: 10.3390/cells11244029 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2020The recently proved one-to-one structural equivalence between a conjugated hydrocarbon CH and the corresponding borane BH is applied here to hybrid systems, where each...
The recently proved one-to-one structural equivalence between a conjugated hydrocarbon CH and the corresponding borane BH is applied here to hybrid systems, where each C=C double bond in the hydrocarbon is consecutively substituted by planar B(H)B moieties from diborane(6). Quantum chemical computations with the B3LYP/-pVTZ method show that the structural equivalences are maintained along the substitutions, even for non-planar systems. We use as benchmark aromatic and antiaromatic (poly)cyclic conjugated hydrocarbons: cyclobutadiene, benzene, cyclooctatetraene, pentalene, benzocyclobutadiene, naphthalene and azulene. The transformation of these conjugated hydrocarbons to the corresponding boranes is analyzed from the viewpoint of geometry and electronic structure.
Topics: Boranes; Boron; Carbon; Models, Chemical
PubMed: 33138268
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25215026 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2022The search for free-standing 2D materials has been one of the most important subjects in the field of studies on 2D materials and their applications. Recently, a... (Review)
Review
The search for free-standing 2D materials has been one of the most important subjects in the field of studies on 2D materials and their applications. Recently, a free-standing monolayer of hydrogenated boron (HB) sheet has been synthesized by hydrogenation of borophene. The HB sheet is also called borophane, and its application is actively studied in many aspects. Here, we review recent studies on the electronic structures of polymorphic sheets of borophane. A hydrogenated boron sheet with a hexagonal boron frame was shown to have a semimetallic electronic structure by experimental and theoretical analyses. A tight-binding model that reproduces the electronic structure was given and it allows easy estimation of the properties of the material. Hydrogenated boron sheets with more complicated nonsymmorphic boron frames were also analyzed. Using the symmetry restrictions from the nonsymmorphic symmetry and the filling factor of hydrogenated boron sheets, the existence of a Dirac nodal line was suggested. These studies provide basic insights for research on and device applications of hydrogenated boron sheets.
Topics: Boron; Electronics; Humans
PubMed: 35335171
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27061808 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2022Boron (B) is considered a prebiotic chemical element with a role in both the origin and evolution of life, as well as an essential micronutrient for some bacteria,... (Review)
Review
Boron (B) is considered a prebiotic chemical element with a role in both the origin and evolution of life, as well as an essential micronutrient for some bacteria, plants, fungi, and algae. B has beneficial effects on the biological functions of humans and animals, such as reproduction, growth, calcium metabolism, bone formation, energy metabolism, immunity, and brain function. Naturally organic B (NOB) species may become promising novel prebiotic candidates. NOB-containing compounds have been shown to be essential for the symbiosis between organisms from different kingdoms. New insights into the key role of NOB species in the symbiosis between human/animal hosts and their microbiota will influence the use of natural B-based colon-targeting nutraceuticals. The mechanism of action (MoA) of NOB species is related to the B signaling molecule (autoinducer-2-borate (AI-2B)) as well as the fortification of the colonic mucus gel layer with NOB species from B-rich prebiotic diets. Both the microbiota and the colonic mucus gel layer can become NOB targets. This paper reviews the evidence supporting the essentiality of the NOB species in the symbiosis between the microbiota and the human/animal hosts, with the stated aim of highlighting the MoA and targets of these species.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Boron; Humans; Microbiota; Plants; Prebiotics; Symbiosis
PubMed: 36012416
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169147 -
European Journal of Nutrition Mar 2022In a search for potentially modifiable factors to improve long-term outcome among kidney transplant recipients (KTR), we hypothesized that boron exposure is associated...
PURPOSE
In a search for potentially modifiable factors to improve long-term outcome among kidney transplant recipients (KTR), we hypothesized that boron exposure is associated with improved long-term outcome in KTR.
METHODS
We determined 24 h urinary boron excretion using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as a measure of boron exposure in 693 stable KTR (57% male, mean age 53y), enrolled in the TransplantLines Food and Nutrition Biobank and Cohort Study. Dietary intake was assessed using validated food-frequency questionnaires.
RESULTS
Linear regression analyses showed that dietary intake of fruit, wine and nuts were key determinants of boron excretion. In addition, boron excretion was negatively correlated with homocysteine and inflammatory parameters. In total, 73 (32%), 47 (20%) and 30 (13%) KTR died among the lowest, middle and highest tertiles of 24 h urinary boron excretion, respectively (P < 0.001). Cox regression analyses showed that high boron excretion was strongly associated with lower risk of mortality, independent of age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate and history of cardiovascular disease (HR per doubling: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.66, P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Boron may be an overlooked target to improve long-term survival among KTR and potentially other patients, likely through pathways other than inflammation or the methionine-homocysteine cycle that were previously suggested. Interventional trials are warranted to confirm the potential of dietary boron supplementation in KTR and other patient populations.
Topics: Boron; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Transplant Recipients
PubMed: 34677681
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-021-02702-0 -
Chemistry (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jan 2022A practical and direct method was developed for the production of versatile alkyl boronate esters via transition metal-free borylation of primary and secondary alkyl...
A practical and direct method was developed for the production of versatile alkyl boronate esters via transition metal-free borylation of primary and secondary alkyl sulfones. The key to the success of the strategy is the use of bis(neopentyl glycolato) diboron (B neop ), with a stoichiometric amount of base as a promoter. The practicality and industrial potential of this protocol are highlighted by its wide functional group tolerance, the late-stage modification of complex compounds, no need for further transesterification, and operational simplicity. Radical clock, radical trap experiments, and EPR studies were conducted which show that the borylation process involves radical intermediates.
Topics: Esters; Sulfones
PubMed: 34713940
DOI: 10.1002/chem.202103866 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2022Boron-based nano-formulations look very promising for biomedical applications, including photo- and boron neutron capture therapies, but the fabrication of non-toxic...
Boron-based nano-formulations look very promising for biomedical applications, including photo- and boron neutron capture therapies, but the fabrication of non-toxic water-dispersible boron nanoparticles (NPs), which contain the highest boron atom concentration, is difficult using currently available chemical and plasma synthesis methods. Here, we demonstrate purely aqueous synthesis of clean boron NPs by methods of femtosecond laser ablation from a solid boron target in water, thus free of any toxic organic solvents, and characterize their properties. We show that despite highly oxidizing water ambience, the laser-ablative synthesis process follows an unusual scenario leading to the formation of boron NPs together with boric acid (HBO) as an oxidation by-product coating the nanoparticles, which acts to stabilize the elemental boron NPs dispersion. We then demonstrate the purification of boron NPs from residual boric acid in deionized water, followed by their coating with polyethylene glycol to improve colloidal stability and biocompatibility. It was found that the formed NPs have a spherical shape with averaged size of about 37 nm, and are composed of elemental boron in mostly amorphous phase with the presence of certain crystalline fraction. The synthesized NPs demonstrate low toxicity and exhibit strong absorption in the NIR window of relative tissue transparency, promising their use in photoacoustic imaging and phototherapy, in addition to their promise for neutron capture therapy. This combined potential ability of generating imaging and therapy functionalities makes laser-synthesized B NPs a very promising multifunctional agent for biomedical applications.
Topics: Boron; Cell Line, Tumor; Lasers; Nanoparticles; Water
PubMed: 35650237
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13066-8