Boron nitride nanotubes radiolabeled with 153Sm and 159Gd: Potential application in nanomedicine

• Published in: Applied radiation and isotopes Vol. 157; p. 109032
• Main Authors: da Silva, Wellington Marcos, de Andrade Alves e Silva, Rayane Hellen, Cipreste, Marcelo Fernandes, Andrade, Gracielle Ferreira, Gastelois, Pedro Lana, de Almeida Macedo, Waldemar Augusto, de Sousa, Edésia Martins Barros
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2020
• Subjects: Bioapplication; Boron nitride nanotubes; Diagnosis; Rare-earth; Theranostics; Therapy; Therapy; Rare-earth; Diagnosis; Theranostics; Bioapplication; Boron nitride nanotubes
• ISSN: 0969-8043; 1872-9800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.109032

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have been growing in notoriety in the development of systems aiming bioapplications. In this work we conducted an investigation about the mechanisms involved in the incorporation of samarium and gadolinium in BNNTs. The process was performed by the reduction of samarium and gadolinium oxides (Sm2O3 and Gd2O3, respectively) in the presence of NH3 gas (witch decomposes into N2 and H2) at high temperatures. Various characterization techniques were conducted to elucidate how Sm and Gd are introduced into the BNNT structure. Biological in vitro assays were performed with human fibroblasts and a human osteosarcoma cell line (SAOS-2). Our results show that the studied systems have high potential for biomedical application and can be used as non-invasive imaging agents, such as scintigraphy radiotracers or as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast medium, being able to promote the treatment of many types of tumors simultaneously to their diagnosis. •BNNTs doped in situ with samarium and gadolinium were synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition.•The samples were activated by neutron capture, producing 153Sm and 159Gd radioisotopes.•The irradiated samples show high specific activity.•Biocompatibility assays showed high biocompatibility both in fibroblasts and SAOS-2 cells at a concentration of 10 μg mL−1.•The results show that the systems studied have high potential for biomedical application.