An experimental evaluation of microcapsules for arterial chemoembolization.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Oncology

Background:

• Intraarterial chemotherapy offers localized cancer treatment.
• Microencapsulation is a promising method for controlled drug release.
• Developing effective microcapsule materials is crucial for transcatheter therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the drug release profiles and histological effects of various microcapsule materials loaded with floxuridine (FUDR).
• To assess the suitability of different microencapsulation materials for intraarterial delivery in a canine kidney model.

Main Methods:

• Microcapsules (50-350 micron) made of monoglyceride, monodiglyceride, natural wax, cellulose polymer, or lactic acid polymer, with or without FUDR, were prepared.
• These microcapsules were intraarterially injected into canine kidneys.
• Renal and systemic venous blood samples were analyzed over 6 hours to determine drug release.
• Kidney histology was examined to assess tissue response.

Main Results:

• Drug release from microcapsules was either uniphasic or multiphasic, dependent on the capsular material.
• Histological examination revealed varying degrees of kidney damage in all embolized kidneys, except those treated with cellulose polymer capsules.
• Lactide polymer capsules resulted in the most pronounced histological changes.

Conclusions:

• The choice of capsular material significantly influences the drug release kinetics and biological effects of microencapsulated FUDR.
• Cellulose polymer microcapsules appear to be a safe option, causing minimal histological damage.
• Lactide polymer microcapsules demonstrate potent effects, warranting further investigation for targeted chemotherapy.