In the second step, the patient is radiated with epithermal neutrons, which after losing energy as they penetrate tissue, are absorbed by the capture agent, which subsequently emits high-energy charged particles, thereby resulting in a biologically destructive nuclear reaction (Fig.1).
In the second step, the patient is radiated with epithermal neutrons, the source of which is either a nuclear reactor or, more recently, an accelerator. After losing energy as they penetrate tissue, the neutrons are absorbed by the capture agent, which subsequently emits high-energy charged particles, thereby resulting in a biologically destructive nuclear reaction (Fig.1).