I.N. Zavestovskaya^†^a, b, S.M. Deyev^‡^a, b, c, S.Yu. Taskaev^§^b, d, e, D.S. Petrunya^*^a, b
^aNational Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’, pl. akad. Kurchatova 1, Moscow, 123182, Russian Federation
^bLebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prosp. 53, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
^cShemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation
^dBudker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, prosp. akad. Lavrenteva 11, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
^eNovosibirsk State University, ul. Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation

This review outlines the history, developmental trajectory, and prospects of neutron capture therapy, one of the most potent nuclear physics-based modalities in modern medicine, representing a variant of binary hadron therapy. The method is based on the nuclear reaction of thermal neutron capture by nuclei of elements characterized by a high cross section for this process (>500 barn). Such nuclei include isotopes of boron-10, lithium-6, gadolinium-157, uranium-235, and several others; however, only a few (n, α) and (n, f) reactions can ensure energy deposition localized to within one to two cells. Owing to the absence of radioactivity and the low toxicity of boron, boron neutron capture therapy has found clinical application, while recent years have seen active investigations into lithium neutron capture therapy. The review focuses on the development of accelerator neutron sources that meet IAEA requirements, novel boron delivery drugs, and dosimetry tools and methods.

Typically, an English full text is available in about 1 month from the date of publication of the original article.

Keywords: boron neutron capture therapy, epithermal neutron sources, boron delivery agents, dosimetry methods, nanoparticles
PACS: 87.19.xj, 87.55.−x, 87.56.−v (all)
DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2025.05.040137
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2026/7/d/
Citation: Zavestovskaya I N, Deyev S M, Taskaev S Yu, Petrunya D S "History, current status, and prospects for the development of boron neutron capture therapy" Phys. Usp. 69 (7) (2026)

Received: 25th, May 2026, accepted: 21st, May 2025

Оригинал: Завестовская И Н, Деев С М, Таскаев С Ю, Петруня Д С «История, современное состояние и перспективы развития бор-нейтронозахватной терапии» УФН 196 726–762 (2026); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2025.05.040137