Advances in analytical techniques for neutron capture therapy: thin layer chromatography matrix and track etch thin layer chromatography methods for boron-10 analysis

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Med. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1118/1.596008· OSTI ID:5651184

Schremmer, J M; Noonan, D J

A new track etch autoradiographic technique for quantitating boron-10 containing compounds used for neutron capture therapy is described. Instead of applying solutions of Cs2B12H11SH and its oxidation products directly to solid-state nuclear track detectors, diethylaminoethyl cellulose thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates are utilized as sample matrices. The plates are juxtaposed with Lexan polycarbonate detectors and irradiated in a beam of thermal neutrons. The detectors are then chemically etched, and the resultant tracks counted with an optoelectronic image analyzer. Sensitivity to boron-10 in solution reaches the 1 pg/microliter level, or 1 ppb. In heparinized blood samples, 100 pg boron-10/microliter are detected. This TLC matrix method has the advantage that sample plates can be reanalyzed under different reactor conditions to optimize detector response to the boron-10 carrier material. Track etch/TLC allows quantitation of the purity of boron neutron capture therapy compounds by utilizing the above method with TLC plates developed in solvent systems that resolve Cs2B12H11SH and its oxidative analogs. Detectors irradiated in juxtaposition to the thin layer chromatograms are chemically etched, and the tracks are counted in the sample lane from the origin of the plate to the solvent front. A graphic depiction of the number of tracks per field yields a quantitative analysis of compound purity.

• Research Organization: Theragenics Corporation, Atlanta, GA
• OSTI ID: 5651184
• Journal Information: Med. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 14:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BORON 10
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRONS
THERMAL NEUTRONS
THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY
BARYONS
BEAMS
BORON ISOTOPES
CHROMATOGRAPHY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MEDICINE
NEUTRON THERAPY
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
NUCLEON BEAMS
NUCLEONS
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PARTICLE BEAMS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STABLE ISOTOPES
THERAPY
550604* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Therapy- (1980-)