Drug Release Property of Lipiodol Emulsion Formed by Glass Membrane Emulsification Device for Transarterial Chemoembolization
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Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Glass-Based Devices to Generate Drops and Emulsions
Published on: April 5, 2022
Toshihiro Tanaka1, Hideyuki Nishiofuku2, Tetsuya Masada2
1Department of Radiology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, 634-8522, Japan. toshihir@bf6.so-net.ne.jp.
Purpose:
To evaluate physiochemical characteristics of emulsions formed by a modified emulsification device and to compare in vitro drug release properties of ethiodized oil (Lipiodol)-drug solution emulsion formed by the device and a 3-way-stopcock for conventional transarterial chemoembolization.
Materials And Methods:
A V-shaped pumping emulsification device with a 100-μm-micropore glass membrane was developed to reduce the resistance of pumping. Epirubicin solution was mixed with Lipiodol (ratio 1:2) with pumping exchanges through the device. The percentage of water-in-oil (W/O) and droplet size distribution and viscosity were evaluated. The in vitro drug release properties were compared between using the device and a 3-way-stopcock.
Results:
Percentage of W/O was 98.45 ± 0.03%. The median droplet size was 22.58 ± 1.70 μm, and the viscosity was 143.70 ± 12.36 cP. The released epirubicin at 0 min was 1.73 ± 1.05% in the device, whereas 41.02 ± 7.27% in a 3-way-stopcock (P < 0.001). The half-life of release (t50%) of the device was significantly longer than that of a 3-way-stopcock (175 ± 25 vs. 8 ± 6 min, P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
The V-shaped emulsification device with a 100-μm-micropore glass membrane can form nearly 100% W/O emulsion with homogenous droplet sizes. Emulsion formed by the device showed a slower epirubicin release property compared with that of a 3-way-stopcock.
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