Development of a thermal neutron-sensitive liposome for a novel drug delivery system aiming for radio-chemo-concurrent cancer therapy

A thermal neutron-sensitive liposome has been developed focusing on irradiation site-specific-controlled release of a medicine. We recommended a 10B-borocaptate dimer as a detonator of liposome in expectation of effects of low-energy heavy ions produced by 10B(n, α)7Li reaction. As a result, an X-ray-sensitive liposome incorporating the detonator was vulnerable enough to release an anticancer agent, carboplatin, at a dose/dose–rate near clinical use. These results reveal, moreover, that the liposomes are also applicable to a heavy-ion beam.