Summary
The application of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) to the determination of boron was studied with regard to the optimization of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), a method used in cancer radiotherapy. In order to enable trace determinations of B in tissue down to the sub μg/g-level (as this application requires), the different parameters of ICP-OES (gas flow, power, observation height) were optimized towards highest power of detection. Two different nebulizers (Babington and Meinhard nebulizer) as well as ICPs with argon or nitrogen as outer gases were used. The optimization was carried out with the aid of a modified simplex. The lowest detection limit for B (25 ng/ml) is obtained in the case of a Babington nebulizer and with an ICP using Ar as outer gas as well as a forward power of 1.3 kW (plate voltage at the r.f. generator: 2.75 kV). Therefore, the nebulizer gas flow had to be set at 1.1 l/min (at 4.5 bar) and an intermediate gas flow of 5 l/min in the case of a Greenfield-type torch was required. After optimization the natural concentration of B in biological tissues (0.1–0.3 μg/g) could be determined after decomposition of 1–1.5 g of the sample with 5 ml HNO3 (63%) at high temperature and pressure during 2 h in closed PTFE vessels. Results obtained with spiked liver standards were precise (RSD 5%–8%) and accurate in a concentration range of 5 μg/g to 100 μg/g. The method developed could be satisfactorily used for the analysis of tissue samples of mice tumors. Furthermore, the uptake and metabolization of boron and its derivatives could be well monitored at the 1–5 μg/g level.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kliegel W (1980) Bor in Biologie, Medizin und Pharmazie. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York pp 610–635
Iyengar GV, Kollmer WE, Bowen HJM (1978) The elemental composition of human tissue and fluids. VCH, Weinheim
Fairchild RG, Gabel D, Laster BH, Greenberg D, Kiszenick W, Micca PL (1983) Proc First Int Conf Neutron Capture Therapy, Upton N.Y. pp. 106–113
Fairchild RG, Gabel D, Laster BH, Greenberg D, Kiszenick W, Micca PL (1986) Med Phys 13:50–56
Yoshini K, Okamoto M, Kakihana H. Nakanishi T, Ichihashi M, Mishima Y (1984) Anal Chem 56:839–842
Grallath E, Tschöpel P, Kölblin G, Stix U, Tölg G (1980) Fresenius Z Anal Chem 302:40–51
Broekaert JAC, Leis F (1979) Anal Chim Acta 109:73–83
Scott RH, Strasheim A (1975) Anal Chim Acta 76:71–78
Schramel P (1989) Mikrochim Acta III:355–364
Magour F, Schramel P, Ovcar J, Mäser H (1982) Arch Environm Contam Toxicol 11:521–524
Tamat SR, Moore DE, Allen BJ (1989) Pigment Cell Research 2:281–285
Winge RK, Fassel VA, Peterson VJ, Floyd MA (1985) Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Elsevier, Amsterdam Oxford New York Tokyo (1985)
Schramel P, Klose B-J, Hasse S (1982) Fresenius Z Anal Chem 310:209–216
Nelder JA, Mead R (1965) Comput J 7:308
Broekaert JAC, Hagenah WD, Laqua K, Leis F, Stüwer D (1986) Spectrochim Acta 41B:1357–1365
Zaray G, Broekaert JAC, Böhmer RG, Leis F (1987) Talanta 34:629–638
Kaiser H, Specker H (1956) Fresenius Z Anal Chem 149:46–66
Gabel D (1988) Impulse aus der Forschung. Universität Bremen 5:12–15
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dedicated to Prof. Dr. V. Krivan on the occasion of his 60th birthday
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pollmann, D., Broekaert, J.A.C., Leis, F. et al. Determination of boron in biological tissues by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Fresenius J Anal Chem 346, 441–445 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00325858
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00325858