Open AccessBoron Neutron Capture Therapy - A Literature Review
Author(s) -
Kavitaa Nedunchezhian,
Nalini Aswath,
Manigandan Thiruppathy,
Sarumathi Thirugnanamurthy
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of clinical and diagnostic research
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-782X
pISSN - 0973-709X
DOI - 10.7860/jcdr/2016/19890.9024
Subject(s) - neutron capture , boron , radiochemistry , neutron temperature , lithium (medication) , neutron , isotopes of boron , materials science , irradiation , radiation therapy , chemistry , nuclear physics , medicine , physics , radiology , endocrinology
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a radiation science which is emerging as a hopeful tool in treating cancer, by selectively concentrating boron compounds in tumour cells and then subjecting the tumour cells to epithermal neutron beam radiation. BNCT bestows upon the nuclear reaction that occurs when Boron-10, a stable isotope, is irradiated with low-energy thermal neutrons to yield α particles (Helium-4) and recoiling lithium-7 nuclei. A large number of 10 Boron (10B) atoms have to be localized on or within neoplastic cells for BNCT to be effective, and an adequate number of thermal neutrons have to be absorbed by the 10B atoms to maintain a lethal 10B (n, α) lithium-7 reaction. The most exclusive property of BNCT is that it can deposit an immense dose gradient between the tumour cells and normal cells. BNCT integrates the fundamental focusing perception of chemotherapy and the gross anatomical localization proposition of traditional radiotherapy.