ABSTRACT
Boron-containing compounds (BCCs) have expanding applications as bioactive compounds. However, some evidence is limiting the applications in mammals, including BCC toxicity, which is implied from the analysis of boric acid and sodium borates. Recently, emerging analysis strongly suggests that each BCC has its own toxicity profile. Consequently, the toxicology profile of some specific BCC subgroups, such as boronic acids, carboranes, bodipy-derivatives, which are attractive for developing biomedical resources, is poorly known. Mechanisms for boron toxicity have been reported after the analysis at atomic, molecular, and systematic levels in mammals. Some differences between species have been identified. In this chapter, some data on BCC-toxicity are presented. Data are organized as toxicology related to pharmacodynamics or pharmacokinetics. In this sense, the toxicology of some BCCs is clearly related to high absorption, biased distribution, accumulation, and disruption of rapid depuration, which has been frequently observed. Moreover, mechanisms of toxicity have been recognized in additional fields such as the interaction of BCCs with enzymes or nuclear receptors as they can act on all the known membrane receptors and some plasma transporters. Finally, the toxicity profile of some BCCs used in humans as potential drugs makes evident the diversity of mechanisms that BCCs could to be toxic. These toxicity profiles should be considered for the safe use of BCC in the biomedical field.
