Boron concentration measurements by alpha spectrometry and quantitative neutron autoradiography in cells and tissues treated with different boronated formulations and administration protocols

The possibility to measure boron concentration with high precision in tissues that will be irradiated
represents a fundamental step for a safe and effective BNCT treatment. In Pavia, two techniques have
been used for this purpose, a quantitative method based on charged particles spectrometry and a boron
biodistribution imaging based on neutron autoradiography. A quantitative method to determine boron
concentration by neutron autoradiography has been recentlyset-up and calibrated for the measurement
of biological samples, both solid and liquid, in the frame of the feasibility study of BNCT. Thist echnique
was calibrated and the obtained results were cross checked with those of α spectrometry,inorderto
validatethem. The comparisons were performed using tissues taken from animals treated with different
boron administration protocols. Subsequently the quantitative neutron autoradiography was employed
to measure osteosarcoma cell samples treated with BPA and with new boronated formulations.