# Boron Drug Delivery via Encapsulated Magnetic Nanocomposites: A New Approach for BNCT in Cancer Treatment

Authors: Yinghuai Zhu; Yongxiang Lin; Yi Zhun Zhu; Jia Lu; John A. Maguire; Narayan S. Hosmane
Journal: Journal of Nanomaterials
 (2010)

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## Abstract

Ortho-carborane cages have been successfully attached to modified magnetic nanoparticles via catalytic azide-alkyne cycloadditions between 1-R-2-butyl-Ortho-C2B10H10(R=Me,3;Ph,4) and propargyl group-enriched magnetic nanoparticles. A loading amount of 9.83 mmol boron atom/g starch-matrixed magnetic nanoparticles has been reached. The resulting nanocomposites have been found to be highly tumor-targeted vehicles under the influence of an external magnetic field (1.14T), yielding a high boron concentration of 51.4 μg/g tumor and ratios of around 10 : 1 tumor to normal tissues.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is potentially a promising and powerful binary anticancer therapy in which compounds containing the10B isotope are selectively introduced into both dividing and nondividing tumor cells and then irradiated with thermal neutrons. The 10B nucleus adsorbs a neutron forming an excited 11B nucleus that undergoes a rapid fission reaction, producing a high-energy α-particle (1.47 MeV) and Li-7 ion (0.84 MeV), in addition to a low energy gamma γ ray (478 keV). These particles may cross a cell nucleus and thus destroy a tumor cell. The linear energy transfer (LET) of these heavily charged particles has a range of about one cell diameter [1, 2], which confines radiation damage to the cell from which they arise, hence minimizing cytotoxic effects on the surrounding tissue. Thus, if the boron can be selectively concentrated, the target region can be dosed with neutrons at a sizeable flux, but have minimal effect on the boron-free regions in the beam path. Boron-10 also has the advantages of being nonradioactive and easily incorporated into compounds. The required boron concentration is generally estimated at 10910B atoms (natural abundance 19.9%) per cell, which translates to approximately 35 μg 10B per gram of tissue [3]. To prevent damage to healthy tissue in the path of the neutron beam, the surrounding tissue should contain no more than 5 μg of 10B/g of tissue. A primary use of BNCT is in the treatment of malignant brain tumors, such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) [4]. This is one of the most malignant forms of cancer that infiltrates the brain so aggressively that surgery is rarely able to remove all of the cancerous tissue; it is virtually untreatable and is inevitably lethal [5, 6]. In addition to treating difficult brain tumors, BNCT has been successfully employed in other cancer therapies. For example, a Finnish research group recently reported that a patient with recurrent head and neck tumors showed an excellent response to BNCT treatments [7]. Lung and liver tumors have also been investigated as potential candidates for BNCT [8, 9].Selective accumulation of boron in the tumor cells produces a substantial therapy ratio during BNCT. Consequently, improvements in boron delivery vehicles will dramatically improve BNCT effectiveness. However, in common with all other forms of chemotherapy, the “bottle-neck” obstacle to be overcome in BNCT is the relatively nonspecific in vivo distribution for most of the boron-containing compounds. When BNCT compounds are intravenously injected, they will generally distribute in both tumor and healthy cells, and methods must be developed to maximize the tumor/healthy tissue ratio. In the last decades, a variety of carrier molecules such as polyamines and liposomes have been investigated as possible boron delivery agents to tumor cells [1, 10–17]. Despite these efforts, only two low-molecular-weight compounds, Na2B12H11SH (BSH) and 4-borono-L-phenylalanine (L-BPA) are currently in clinical trials. The results on these compounds are not universally promising, owing to their low tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-brain tissue 10B ratios [10–17]. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of potential precursor molecules and more sophisticated delivery systems in BNCT.Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have attracted attention because of their biological application in targeted drug delivery, thermotherapy, and as contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)  [18–22]. Promising results have been achieved in a limited number of in vivo studies using functional MNPs as drug carriers [23–25]. In magnetically targeted therapy, a drug is attached to a biocompatible magnetic nanoparticle carrier such as a polymer-functionalized ferrofluid and is injected into the patient via the circulatory system.  When these particles enter the blood stream, external, high-gradient magnetic fields can be used to concentrate the magnetic particles at a targeted site within the body. The concentrated drug can then be released via changes in physiological conditions or enzymatic activity followed by the tumor cell absorption [18]. A major advantage of this methodology exists in the decrease of the required amount of the cytotoxic drugs, thus reducing the associated side effects. This technique has been examined as a means to target cytotoxic drugs to brain tumors. Studies have demonstrated that particles as large as 1-2 μm could be concentrated at the site of intracerebral rat glima-2 (RG-2) tumors; a later study demonstrated that 10–20 nm magnetic particles were even more effective in targeting these tumors in rats [26, 27].  Studies of magnetic targeting in humans demonstrated that the infusion of ferrofluids is well tolerated in most of patients, and the ferrofluid could be successfully directed to advanced sarcomas without associated organ toxicity. In addition, it has been reported that a starch-covered magnetic nanoparticle (Fe3O4) with a hydrodynamic diameter of ~100 nm showed a significantly enhanced in vivo accumulation in gliosarcomas when directed by external magnets [28]. The nanoparticles persisted in the glioma for approximately 100 minutes after the removal of the external magnetic field [28], which, in the future, might be long enough for BNCT treatment. In addition, unlike other supported drugs, it is not necessary that the attached boron species be released from the particle supports for them to be effective. Application of this technique, therefore, can be considered appropriate for use in BNCT treatments. Herein, we report our preliminary results on the synthesis of encapsulated magnetic nanocomposites with a high load of carborane cages along with a preliminary study of their biodistrubutions.


## 2. Results and Discussion

Commercially available magnetic nanoparticles of iron oxides matrixed with starch have been enriched with the carborane cages, 1-R-2-butyl-ortho-C2B10H10 (R=Me, 3; Ph, 4), by catalytic azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions. This reaction has been extensively developed and widely used in chemical transformations in biological applications and materials chemistry [29], such as cell surface labelling [30], biopolymers-viruses conjugation [31], and block copolymer synthesis [32]. In our case, starch modified magnetic nanoparticles were enriched with allyl-groups by reactions of free hydroxyl groups in starch with propargyl bromides in DMF in the presence of sodium hydroxides (Scheme 1). There were no significant changes in the IR spectra before and after immobilization of propargyl groups. However, after immobilizing the carborane cages, a new peak appeared at ν=2575 cm-1, assigned to the B–H bond stretching (Figure 1). Compared with the starting compound 1-Me-2-(CH2)4N3-1,2-C2B10H10, the absorption of  νN≡N at 2097 cm-1 disappeared in IR spectra of 3 (Figure 1). These results confirm the successful immobilization of propargyl and carborane groups. The successive attachments are consistent with the thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) of compounds 1,2, and3, (Figure 2), the curves indicate a weight% loss of 27.7 and 33.2 for 1 and 2, respectively, while compound 3 has a much smaller loss of 15.7%. For the propargyl group, a loading amount of 1.40 mmol per gram of starch-matrixed magnetic nanoparticles has been reached based on TGA and elemental analyses.  Unfortunately, a lack of knowledge of the final TGA product of 3 prevented our determination of the loading amounts of carborane [33]. However, the ICP-OES analysis was decisive in obtaining a loading amount of 9.83 mmol boron atom/g starch-matrixed magnetic nanoparticles.Scheme 1
Synthesis of encapsulated magnetic nanocomposites.Figure 1
IR spectra of 1-Me-2-(CH2)4N3-1,2-C2B10H10, 2, and 3.Figure 2
TGA curves of compound1, 2 and 3 (not to scale),It should be pointed out that, after modification, the TEM image of3 (Figure 3(a)) showed that aggregation of the modified magnetic nanoparticles had occured, which may be caused by solvent evaporation of TEM samples. This phenomenon has been generally reported [34–36]. In contrast, most of the magnetic nanoparticles of 3have been found separated in atomic force microscope (AFM) image (see Figures 3(d) and 3(e)).TEM images of the magnetic cores of compound3; free (a), inside the tumor cells (b,c), AFM (d,e).
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)Tissue distribution studies of3were conducted in a mixed solution of DMSO/saline (v/v = 1/10) in mice using a literature method [29]. We found that the modified nanoparticles were more stable in a mixed solution of DMSO/saline rather than in saline alone. DMSO may enhance nanoparticle dispersion in solution. Tissue boron concentrations at four time intervals of 8, 16, 30, and 48 hours have been examined. The results are shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b) in the absence and presence of an external magnet, respectively. From Figure 4(a), it can be seen that boron concentrations in different time intervals in the tumor are less than 14.7 μg/g tumor, with a slow elimination after 30 hours in the absence of an external magnetic field. The resulting boron concentration in tumor cells, shown in Figure 4(a),   is lower than that found for the nido-carborane-appended water soluble single-wall carbon nanotubes, from which a maximum boron concentration of 22.8 μg boron/g tumor was achieved at a 30-hour time point [33]. The lower accumulation in tumor cells of the magnetic nanoparticles may be caused by their low water solubility, compared with the water soluble nido-carborane-appended single-wall carbon nanotubes. In this regard, it should be pointed out that charge could be introduced in the boronated magnetic material, either by decapitation of the carborane or by the use of monoanionic monocarbaboranes. Figure 4(a)   shows that, except for the brain, the ratios of boron concentrations of tumor to normal tissues are less than two. The low accumulation of boron in the brain might be due to the intact blood brain barrier (BBB). However, further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis. Nonetheless, the results shown in Figure 4(a)   do not satisfy the BNCT criteria [3]. The results exclude the feasibility of using magnetic nanocomposites as BNCT drug delivery vehicles in the absence of an external magnetic field.  However, as shown in Figure 4(b), in the presence of an external magnetic field, the boron concentrations in tumor reached a high value of 51.4 μg/g tumor with tumor/normal tissue ratios of around 10 : 1.  The high concentration sustained around 48 hours with a continuing external magnetic field is consistent with the literature data [24, 36]. Since the entire tumor was resected and homogenized and then analyzed in our method, the obtained boron concentrations are average concentrations for the bulk tumor. The exact localization and status of the nanocomposites has not yet been determined. The nanomaterial could be either inside tumor interstitial or intracellular [36]. However, the TEM images (Figures 3(b) and  3(c)) have demonstrated that the entrapped magnetic nanocomposites aggregated inside the tumor, which is also consistent with the observations reported in the literature [24, 34, 36]. The exact mechanism of the accumulation of magnetic nanocomposite carriers in tumor cells has not been determined yet. Compared with the results without the external magnetic field, it is apparent that the introduction of an external magnetic field plays a key role in the enhanced accumulation of ca 10-fold higher nanoparticle concentrations entrapped within the tumor. In this regard, it should be pointed out that even the aggregated boron nanoparticles should be therapeutically effective for BNCT. However, further investigation is required to confirm the exact mechanism for the very high cellular uptake. In addition, based on previous reports [23], the magnetic nanocomposites used in this study are nontoxic and well tolerated in clinical trials after systemic administration. In addition, there was no evidence of tissue damage in any organs assayed in Figure 4, either in the presence or absence of the external magnetic field. Nonetheless, all these promising results suggest that the delivery system can be potentially applied to the treatment of not only brain tumors, but also for other kinds of cancers through BNCT [8–21].Boron tissue distribution of3, (a) without external magnet, (b) with external magnet.
(a)(b)


## 3. Conclusions and Outlook

Using “click” reaction, carborane cages have been successfully attached to modified magnetic nanoparticles for the first time. The resulting nanocomposites have been found to accumulate in tumor cells in high concentration in the presence of external magnetic field. These results provide new hope for the research of Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT) and the combination of the drugs with BNCT/MRI/Thermotherapy characteristics. More complete biodistribution and cytotoxicity studies are currently underway in our laboratories.


## 4. Methods

### 4.1. General Procedures and Materials

All operations were carried out under argon atmosphere in glove-box or using standard Schlenk lines. The purchased magnetic support (50 mg/ml, 100 nm, magnetic iron oxides matrixing with starch) was provided by chemicell GmbH. 1-Methyl- and 1-phenyl-closo-1,2-C2B10H11 were obtained from Katchem Ltd. and used as received. Other reagents were supplied from Sigma-Aldrich Pte. Ltd., and used as received. 1-R-2-(CH2)4N3-1,2-C2B10H10 (R=Me, Ph) were prepared according to the literature procedures [33]. Dimethylformamide (DMF) was dried and then redistilled under reduced pressure before use.  Infrared (IR) spectra were measured on a BIO-RAD spectrophotometer using KBr pellets. Elemental analyses were determined by a Perkin Elemer 2400 CHN elemental analyzer. ICP analysis was determined using a VISTA-MPX, CCD Simultaneous ICP-OES analyzer. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) were carried out on a SDT 2960 Simultaneous DSC-TGA analyzer. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) measurements were carried out on a JEOL Tecnai-G2, FEI analyzer operating at 200 kV. Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) was recorded on an OLYMPUS BX51M microscope.


### 4.2. Synthesis of Propargyl Groups-Enriched Magnetic Nanoparticles(2)

A literature method was used to immobilize propargyl groups by the reaction of propargyl bromide with the hydroxyl groups on the starch matrix covering the surface of magnetic nanoparticles [37]. Under an argon atmosphere, with vigorous magnetic stirring, 10.0 mL (108.85 mmol, great excess) of propargyl bromide was slowly added to a solution of 200.0 mg magnetic nanoparticles suspended in a mixed solvent of 30.0 mL of DMF and 5.0 mL of deionized water followed by the addition of 5.0 g of NaOH. After stirring for 1 hour at room temperature, the reaction mixture was heated to 50°C for 2 days. The magnetic nanoparticles were collected with a magnet and washed with 2×10.0 mL portions of diethyl ether to remove unreacted propargyl bromide. The magnetic material was then redispersed in 10.0 mL of deionized water, neutralized with 1Naqueous HCl to pH ≈ 6, collected with a magnet, and washed with 2 ×  10.0 mL portions of oxygen-free, deionized water. Analyzed samples of magnetic nanoparticles, enriched with propargyl functional groups, were dried in high vacuum at 60°C for 3 days before subjecting them to analysis by elemental analysis (EA), IR spectra and TGA, respectively. A loading amount of 1.40 mmol (propargyl group)/g (starch-matrixed magnetic nanoparticles) was obtained based on TGA and EA. IR (KBr pellet, cm-1): 3345 (br, vs), 2902 (s, m), 1652 (s, m), 1430 (s, m), 1372 (s, m), 1317 (s, m), 1203 (s, m), 1163 (s, s), 1112 (s, vs), 1060 (s, vs), 1034 (s, vs), 897 (s, m), 668 (s, m), 616 (s, m), 559 (s, m), and 435 (s, m).


### 4.3. Synthesis of 1-Me-1,2-closo-C2B10H10-Enriched Magnetic Nanoparticles (3)

A literature method was modified to prepare compound3 [29, 38]. Under argon atmosphere, with continuous stirring, a 10.0  mL DMF solution (50.0 mg/mL) of the above prepared propargyl functional group-enhanced magnetic nanoparticles was added to DMF solution of 1.0 g (3.92 mmol) of 1-Me-2-(CH2)4N3-1,2-C2B10H10 in 40.0 mL of DMF. 50.0 mg (0.35 mmol) CuBr and 1.0 mL (4.70 mmol) of  N,N,N′,N′,N′′-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) were also added to above solution. The obtained solution was heated to 70°C for one week in dark. The reddish-brown magnetic particles were collected by magnet and washed with DMF (2×10.0 mL) and deionized water (2×20.0 mL) in sequence. Analyzed samples of magnetic nanocomposites, enriched with functionalized carborane cages, were dried in high vacuum at 60°C for 4 days before subjecting them to analysis by elemental analysis, ICP, TGA, IR, and TEM, respectively. A loading amount of 12.34 mmol boron atom/g (starch-matrixed magnetic nanocomposites) was obtained based on ICP analysis. TEM samples were prepared as described in the literature [33]. In brief, one drop of a diluted solution of the carborane-enriched magnetic nanocomposite 3 was placed onto a copper grid coated with carbon followed by the solvent evaporation. AFM samples were also prepared according to literature [34].  Compound 3 was dispersed in deionized water using sonication for 30 minutes, a piece of clear silicon wafer was placed in the bottom of a beaker containing above mixture. The silicon wafer was kept in beaker for 2 hours to settle down dispersed nanoparticles. The silicon wafer was dried in vacuum for 20 hours before analysis. IR is (KBr pellet, cm-1): 3344 (br, vs), 2903 (s, m), 2575 (s, m), 1637 (s, m), 1430 (s, m), 1372 (s, m), 1318 (s, m), 1203 (s, m), 1162 (s, s), 1112 (s, vs), 1060 (s, vs), 1034 (s, vs), 897 (s, w), 694 (s, m), 618 (s, m), and 560 (s, m).


### 4.4. Synthesis of 1-Ph-1,2-closo-C2B10H10-Enriched Magnetic Nanocomposite (4)

In a method, similar to that employed above for3, magnetic nanocomposite 4 was prepared from 1.0 g (3.2 mmol) of 1-Ph-2-(CH2)4N3-1,2-C2B10H10 in 40.0 mL of DMF, 50.0 mg (0.35 mmol) CuBr, and 1.0 mL (4.70 mmol) of PMDETA.  A loading amount of 9.83 mmol boron atom/g (starch-matrixed magnetic nanocomposites) was obtained based on ICP analysis. IR is (KBr pellet, cm-1): 3344 (br, vs), 2903 (s, m), 2583 (s, m), 1636 (s, m), 1456 (s, m), 1372 (s, m), 1317 (s, m), 1282 (s, m), 1204 (s, m), 1162 (s, s), 1112 (s, vs), 1059 (s, vs), 1034 (s, vs), 897 (s, m), 806.5 (s, w), 758 (s, m), 694 (s, m), 668 (s, m), 618 (s, m), 560 (s, m), and 437 (s, m).


### 4.5. Evaluation of Biodistribution of(3)

The biodistributions of compound3 in a mixed solution of DMSO/saline (v/v = 1/10) were measured using 6-week-old female BALB/c mice in a method similar to that reported in the literature [33]. The mice were housed and treated humanely under standard conditions. Breast tumor cells, BCAP-37 (MDA-MB-435i), and a mammary carcinoma were then transplanted into the right flank of the young female BALB/c mice of ca. 19-20 g body weight one week before testing. A 200 μL of solution of 3in a mixed solution of DMSO/saline (v/v = 1/10) at a concentration of 35 mg/mL was slowly injected into the tail vein of the mice. For magnetically directed drug studies, a block magnet (20 mm × 10 mm × 5 mm, maximum 1.14 T at 20°C) was bound just outside of the body close to tumors before drug injection. For comparison, seven tissues, tumor, blood, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, and brain samples were collected and analyzed with ICP-OES. The mice were anesthetized (diethyl ether) and bled into heparinized syringes via cardiac puncture before surgery to collect blood. The collected blood was then placed into tared cryogenic tubes and kept frozen at -70°C for analysis. The mice were later sacrificed via cervical dislocation while anesthetized. Typical time course tissue distribution experiments examined the tissue boron concentration at four time intervals over 48 hours. The tumor and organ samples (liver, lung, spleen, kidney, brain and tumor) were collected, placed in tared cryogenic tubes, and kept frozen at -70°C before being subjected to analysis with ICP-OES. Figure 4 shows the results of this study without and with external magnet, respectively.  While each data point represents the average of five mice, for clarity, error bars are not shown in the graphical data; standard deviations were typically ~ 5–15% of the average values. TEM samples were prepared by literature method [34, 39]. In brief, the tumors were fixed in a Karnovsky fixative of phosphate-buffered saline with 2% glutaraldehyde and 2.5% paraformaldehyde. The tumor samples were further cut into small pieces of ~1 mm3, and post fixed with 2% osmium tetroxide fixative and 3% potassium ferricyanide for 1 hour. Then 1% uranyl acetate was added for Enbloc staining overnight. The tumor samples were dehydrated using increasing concentrations of ethanol from 25% to 100%. The dehydrated specimens were embedded in resin and dried at ~50°C for 3 days in oven. The dry specimens were cut under a microscope, and the obtained thin slices were transferred onto copper TEM grids, followed by further staining in 1% osmium tetroxide for 3 minutes before subjected to TEM analysis.A similar analysis using compound4 was not possible due to its low water dispersibility.


## 4.1. General Procedures and Materials

All operations were carried out under argon atmosphere in glove-box or using standard Schlenk lines. The purchased magnetic support (50 mg/ml, 100 nm, magnetic iron oxides matrixing with starch) was provided by chemicell GmbH. 1-Methyl- and 1-phenyl-closo-1,2-C2B10H11 were obtained from Katchem Ltd. and used as received. Other reagents were supplied from Sigma-Aldrich Pte. Ltd., and used as received. 1-R-2-(CH2)4N3-1,2-C2B10H10 (R=Me, Ph) were prepared according to the literature procedures [33]. Dimethylformamide (DMF) was dried and then redistilled under reduced pressure before use.  Infrared (IR) spectra were measured on a BIO-RAD spectrophotometer using KBr pellets. Elemental analyses were determined by a Perkin Elemer 2400 CHN elemental analyzer. ICP analysis was determined using a VISTA-MPX, CCD Simultaneous ICP-OES analyzer. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) were carried out on a SDT 2960 Simultaneous DSC-TGA analyzer. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) measurements were carried out on a JEOL Tecnai-G2, FEI analyzer operating at 200 kV. Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) was recorded on an OLYMPUS BX51M microscope.


## 4.2. Synthesis of Propargyl Groups-Enriched Magnetic Nanoparticles(2)

A literature method was used to immobilize propargyl groups by the reaction of propargyl bromide with the hydroxyl groups on the starch matrix covering the surface of magnetic nanoparticles [37]. Under an argon atmosphere, with vigorous magnetic stirring, 10.0 mL (108.85 mmol, great excess) of propargyl bromide was slowly added to a solution of 200.0 mg magnetic nanoparticles suspended in a mixed solvent of 30.0 mL of DMF and 5.0 mL of deionized water followed by the addition of 5.0 g of NaOH. After stirring for 1 hour at room temperature, the reaction mixture was heated to 50°C for 2 days. The magnetic nanoparticles were collected with a magnet and washed with 2×10.0 mL portions of diethyl ether to remove unreacted propargyl bromide. The magnetic material was then redispersed in 10.0 mL of deionized water, neutralized with 1Naqueous HCl to pH ≈ 6, collected with a magnet, and washed with 2 ×  10.0 mL portions of oxygen-free, deionized water. Analyzed samples of magnetic nanoparticles, enriched with propargyl functional groups, were dried in high vacuum at 60°C for 3 days before subjecting them to analysis by elemental analysis (EA), IR spectra and TGA, respectively. A loading amount of 1.40 mmol (propargyl group)/g (starch-matrixed magnetic nanoparticles) was obtained based on TGA and EA. IR (KBr pellet, cm-1): 3345 (br, vs), 2902 (s, m), 1652 (s, m), 1430 (s, m), 1372 (s, m), 1317 (s, m), 1203 (s, m), 1163 (s, s), 1112 (s, vs), 1060 (s, vs), 1034 (s, vs), 897 (s, m), 668 (s, m), 616 (s, m), 559 (s, m), and 435 (s, m).


## 4.3. Synthesis of 1-Me-1,2-closo-C2B10H10-Enriched Magnetic Nanoparticles (3)

A literature method was modified to prepare compound3 [29, 38]. Under argon atmosphere, with continuous stirring, a 10.0  mL DMF solution (50.0 mg/mL) of the above prepared propargyl functional group-enhanced magnetic nanoparticles was added to DMF solution of 1.0 g (3.92 mmol) of 1-Me-2-(CH2)4N3-1,2-C2B10H10 in 40.0 mL of DMF. 50.0 mg (0.35 mmol) CuBr and 1.0 mL (4.70 mmol) of  N,N,N′,N′,N′′-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) were also added to above solution. The obtained solution was heated to 70°C for one week in dark. The reddish-brown magnetic particles were collected by magnet and washed with DMF (2×10.0 mL) and deionized water (2×20.0 mL) in sequence. Analyzed samples of magnetic nanocomposites, enriched with functionalized carborane cages, were dried in high vacuum at 60°C for 4 days before subjecting them to analysis by elemental analysis, ICP, TGA, IR, and TEM, respectively. A loading amount of 12.34 mmol boron atom/g (starch-matrixed magnetic nanocomposites) was obtained based on ICP analysis. TEM samples were prepared as described in the literature [33]. In brief, one drop of a diluted solution of the carborane-enriched magnetic nanocomposite 3 was placed onto a copper grid coated with carbon followed by the solvent evaporation. AFM samples were also prepared according to literature [34].  Compound 3 was dispersed in deionized water using sonication for 30 minutes, a piece of clear silicon wafer was placed in the bottom of a beaker containing above mixture. The silicon wafer was kept in beaker for 2 hours to settle down dispersed nanoparticles. The silicon wafer was dried in vacuum for 20 hours before analysis. IR is (KBr pellet, cm-1): 3344 (br, vs), 2903 (s, m), 2575 (s, m), 1637 (s, m), 1430 (s, m), 1372 (s, m), 1318 (s, m), 1203 (s, m), 1162 (s, s), 1112 (s, vs), 1060 (s, vs), 1034 (s, vs), 897 (s, w), 694 (s, m), 618 (s, m), and 560 (s, m).


## 4.4. Synthesis of 1-Ph-1,2-closo-C2B10H10-Enriched Magnetic Nanocomposite (4)

In a method, similar to that employed above for3, magnetic nanocomposite 4 was prepared from 1.0 g (3.2 mmol) of 1-Ph-2-(CH2)4N3-1,2-C2B10H10 in 40.0 mL of DMF, 50.0 mg (0.35 mmol) CuBr, and 1.0 mL (4.70 mmol) of PMDETA.  A loading amount of 9.83 mmol boron atom/g (starch-matrixed magnetic nanocomposites) was obtained based on ICP analysis. IR is (KBr pellet, cm-1): 3344 (br, vs), 2903 (s, m), 2583 (s, m), 1636 (s, m), 1456 (s, m), 1372 (s, m), 1317 (s, m), 1282 (s, m), 1204 (s, m), 1162 (s, s), 1112 (s, vs), 1059 (s, vs), 1034 (s, vs), 897 (s, m), 806.5 (s, w), 758 (s, m), 694 (s, m), 668 (s, m), 618 (s, m), 560 (s, m), and 437 (s, m).


## 4.5. Evaluation of Biodistribution of(3)

The biodistributions of compound3 in a mixed solution of DMSO/saline (v/v = 1/10) were measured using 6-week-old female BALB/c mice in a method similar to that reported in the literature [33]. The mice were housed and treated humanely under standard conditions. Breast tumor cells, BCAP-37 (MDA-MB-435i), and a mammary carcinoma were then transplanted into the right flank of the young female BALB/c mice of ca. 19-20 g body weight one week before testing. A 200 μL of solution of 3in a mixed solution of DMSO/saline (v/v = 1/10) at a concentration of 35 mg/mL was slowly injected into the tail vein of the mice. For magnetically directed drug studies, a block magnet (20 mm × 10 mm × 5 mm, maximum 1.14 T at 20°C) was bound just outside of the body close to tumors before drug injection. For comparison, seven tissues, tumor, blood, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, and brain samples were collected and analyzed with ICP-OES. The mice were anesthetized (diethyl ether) and bled into heparinized syringes via cardiac puncture before surgery to collect blood. The collected blood was then placed into tared cryogenic tubes and kept frozen at -70°C for analysis. The mice were later sacrificed via cervical dislocation while anesthetized. Typical time course tissue distribution experiments examined the tissue boron concentration at four time intervals over 48 hours. The tumor and organ samples (liver, lung, spleen, kidney, brain and tumor) were collected, placed in tared cryogenic tubes, and kept frozen at -70°C before being subjected to analysis with ICP-OES. Figure 4 shows the results of this study without and with external magnet, respectively.  While each data point represents the average of five mice, for clarity, error bars are not shown in the graphical data; standard deviations were typically ~ 5–15% of the average values. TEM samples were prepared by literature method [34, 39]. In brief, the tumors were fixed in a Karnovsky fixative of phosphate-buffered saline with 2% glutaraldehyde and 2.5% paraformaldehyde. The tumor samples were further cut into small pieces of ~1 mm3, and post fixed with 2% osmium tetroxide fixative and 3% potassium ferricyanide for 1 hour. Then 1% uranyl acetate was added for Enbloc staining overnight. The tumor samples were dehydrated using increasing concentrations of ethanol from 25% to 100%. The dehydrated specimens were embedded in resin and dried at ~50°C for 3 days in oven. The dry specimens were cut under a microscope, and the obtained thin slices were transferred onto copper TEM grids, followed by further staining in 1% osmium tetroxide for 3 minutes before subjected to TEM analysis.A similar analysis using compound4 was not possible due to its low water dispersibility.



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*Source: 409320-2010-06-06.xml*