L-p-Boronophenylalanine

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a selective cancer cell destruction therapy based on the nuclear capture and fission reaction that occurs when neutron beams are irradiated with boron. BNCT is based on the destructive properties of high-energy alpha particles and lithium nuclei produced by the fission reaction of neutron beams irradiating boron, and because the neutron beam irradiation range is limited (5-9 μm, equivalent to the diameter of a cell), BNCT can only destroy boron-containing cells. The effectiveness of radiotherapy can be assessed by measuring the level of L-p-Boronophenylalanine in the blood^[1].
In whole blood samples, L-p-Boronophenylalanine can be reacted with the arylboronic acid derivative fluorescent reagent 4-iodobenzonitrile via Suzuki coupling reaction, achieving ultrasensitive detection (detection limit as low as 0.26 nM). The fluorescent cyanobiphenyl derivative formed by the reaction of L-p-Boronophenylalanine and 4-iodobenzonitrile has a maximum fluorescence of 335 nm under 290 nm excitation^[1].
L-p-Boronophenylalanine (p-BPA) may form oligomers and other molecules in deuterated DMSO (DMSO-d₆). The oligomerization may be due to the formation of an additional stereogenic center at the boron center through intermolecular chelation with the amino acid of another molecule of p-boronophenylalanine (-p-BPA)^[2].

MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.