Demonstration of the bactericidal effects of the boron neutron capture reaction

This pilot study represents a paradigm shift, using BNCT for the treatment of bacterial overgrowth on surgically implanted medical devices. In this study, titanium diboride disks were inoculated with S. aureus and irradiated in a thermal neutron beam. After a delivery of 2.6 × 1012 n/cm2 the surviving fraction of S. aureus on an irradiated disk was 3.1 × 10−5 when compared with non-irradiated controls. This pilot study demonstrates proof of principle of boron neutron capture therapy for infection control (BNCIC).