L-Amino Acid Transporter 1 (LAT1) is an amino acid transporter protein expressed in the cell membrane of several biologiac barriers like blood-brain barrier (BBB), placental barrier and blood-retinal barrier. It is also highly expressed in several types of human cancer types, for example in several types of brain cancers. This presence of LAT1 in both BBB and in cell membrane of several brain cancer cells makes it one of the potential targets for drug delivery in brain tumors.
Our group’s goal is to design and synthetize novel LAT1-selective boron carriers for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy of malignant brain tumors, like glioblastoma. Main structures are based in natural and non-natural amino acids conjugated with one or more boron atom containing functinal groups, like boronic acids and polyhedral boranes.
The project is funded by Finnish Cultural Foundation, Kuopio University Foundation, Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation and by Fund of Matti and Vappu Maukonen. ul Acce