Liposome formulations of o-carborane for the boron neutron capture therapy of cancer

Based on the promise of liposomes as convenient vehicles for the transport of boronated agents for the boron neutron capture therapy (BCNT) of cancer, this paper reports a method for the formulation and characterisation of stable o-carborane-loaded liposomes (ca. 80–100 nm) of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or 1,2-distearol-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DSPC). Preliminary pharmaceutical characterisation experiments have demonstrated the integrity of both DPPC and DSPC liposomal membranes in serum and in PBS and also indicate that these o-carborane-loaded liposomes are candidate carrier vehicles for further evaluation with a view to exploitation in BNCT. [Display omitted] •Liposomes containing carborane for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy have been produced.•Liposomes have diameters of 80–100 nm, in the range for crossing the blood-brain-barrier.•Liposomes are stable in serum as reflected by retention experiments.