Fluorescent Boron Carbide Quantum Dots Synthesized With A Low-Temperature Solvothermal Approach For Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

A facile relatively lower temperature solvothermal approach has been used to synthesize boron carbide quantum dots (-7 nm in size). The detailed structural analysis emphasizes the presence of defect states due to which B4C yielded 1.5 times more fluorescence intensity in tumor cells than normal cell lines. Detailed cytotoxicity and boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) studies have been analyzed. The synthesized material has the potential to stand with traditional clinically studied boron agents (L-BPA) in BNCT. Therefore, the synthesized B4C quantum dots can act as a potential candidate for detector as well as treatment for tumor cells.