Carborane-Conjugated 2-Quinolinearcarboxamide Ligands of the Translocator Protein for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Potential boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) agents have been designed on the basis of the evidence about translocator protein (TSPO) overexpression on the outer mitochondrial membrane of tumor cells. The structure of the first TSPO ligand bearing a carborane cage (compound 2d) has been modified in order to find a suitable candidate for in vivo studies. The designed compounds were synthesized and evaluated for their potential interaction with TSPO and tumor cells. In vitro biological evaluation showed in the case of fluoromethyl derivative 4b a nanomolar TSPO affinity very similar to that of 2d, a significantly lower cytotoxicity, and a slightly superior performance as boron carrier toward breast cancer cells. Moreover, compound 4b could be used as a 19F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agent as well as labeled with 11C or 18F to obtain positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers in order to apply the “see and treat” strategy in BNCT

Emission of fragments in Ca+Ca reaction at 25 MeV/nucleon

We discuss experimental data concerning 40,48Ca+40,48Ca reactions at 25 MeV/nucleon; the 4π multi-detector Chimera has been used as detection device. Effects that can be attributed to the neutron to proton ratios (N/Z) degree of freedom have been investigated. From the analysis of experimental data it seems that the neutron richness of the interacting system plays an important role on the evolution of fusion-like sources formed in semi-central collisions. In particular, it is observed that the larger is the neutron content and the larger is the emission of heavy residues. Experimental data have been compared with CoMD-II model calculations; a moderately stiff symmetry energy should be used to reproduce satisfactorily the data. A thermodynamical analysis on fusion-like sources has been also performed. In semi-peripheral collisions, isospin diffusion signals have been found. They have been investigated by analyzing isobaric emission (7Li/7Be) of quasi-projectile sources. Experimental data indicate that an incomplete N/Z mixing is reached during the interaction phase

Investigation of the isospin dependences in Sn+ni and Sn+Al systems

The ISOSPIN was the first experiment that uses 4\ucf CHIMERA multi-detector, mounted in its complete configuration at the LNS in Catania/Italy. The aim of the project is to explore the isospin properties of the Nuclear Matter Equation of State (NMEOS) by studying heavy ion collisions at intermediate energies. The analysis of the following reactions is in progress: 124Sn+27Al,124Sn+58Ni,124Sn+64Ni at 25 MeV/A and 35 MeV/A. The results of light charged particles identification, CsI(Tl) detectors energy calibration and preliminary physical results will be presented