One-pot syntheses, coordination, and characterization of application-specific biodegradable ligand-polymers

Radioembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Built-In Dosimetry: First in vivo Results with Uniformly-Sized, Biodegradable Microspheres Labeled with 188Re

A common form of treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with non-degradable glass or resin microspheres (MS) labeled with ⁹⁰Y (⁹⁰Y-MS). To further simplify the dosimetry calculations in the clinical setting, to have more control over the particle size and to change the permanent embolization to a temporary one, we developed uniformly-sized, biodegradable ¹⁸⁸Re-labeled MS (¹⁸⁸Re-MS) as a new and easily imageable TARE agent.

Methods: MS made of poly(L-lactic acid) were produced in a flow focusing microchip. The MS were labeled with ¹⁸⁸Re using a customized kit. An orthotopic HCC animal model was developed in male Sprague Dawley rats by injecting N1-S1 cells directly into the liver using ultrasound guidance. A suspension of ¹⁸⁸Re-MS was administered via hepatic intra-arterial catheterization 2 weeks post-inoculation of the N1-S1 cells. The rats were imaged by SPECT 1, 24, 48, and 72 h post-radioembolization.

Results: The spherical ¹⁸⁸Re-MS had a diameter of 41.8 ± 6.0 µm (CV = 14.5%). The site and the depth of the injection of N1-S1 cells were controlled by visualization of the liver in sonograms. Single 0.5 g tumors were grown in all rats. ¹⁸⁸Re-MS accumulated in the liver with no deposition in the lungs. ¹⁸⁸Re decays to stable ¹⁸⁸Os by emission of β^¯ particles with similar energy to those emitted by ⁹⁰Y while simultaneously emitting γ photons, which were imaged directly by single photon computed tomography (SPECT). Using Monte Carlo methods, the dose to the tumors was calculated to be 3-6 times larger than to the healthy liver tissue.

Conclusions:¹⁸⁸Re-MS have the potential to become the next generation of β^¯-emitting MS for TARE. Future work revolves around the investigation of the therapeutic potential of ¹⁸⁸Re-MS in a large-scale, long-term preclinical study as well as the evaluation of the clinical outcomes of using ¹⁸⁸Re-MS with different sizes, from 20 to 50 µm.

Uniform polymer microspheres: monodispersity criteria, methods of formation and applications

For many applications, polymer microspheres (MS) should possess a monodisperse size distribution. With such uniformity they are able to deliver precise amounts of drug per MS, optimize the release kinetics of an encapsulated drug, obtain repeatable in vivo biodistributions to different organs and tissues, and obtain the maximum protection of (protein) drugs from degradation. This review classifies monodisperse polymer MS according to their methods of production and gives examples of the formation of uniform MS and their applications in the medical field. In the literature, the term ‘monodisperse’ is often used inaccurately, and this article attempts to rectify this by clearly defining monodispersity in terms of the coefficient of variation and the polydispersity index, the two statistical quantities most frequently used to describe the size distribution of MS.

Lung perfusion imaging with monosized biodegradable microspheres

After intravenous injection, particles larger than red blood cells will be trapped in the first capillary bed that they encounter. This is the principle of lung perfusion imaging in nuclear medicine, where macroaggregated albumin (MAA) is radiolabeled with (99m)Tc, infused into a patient's arm vein, and then imaged with gamma scintigraphy. Our aim was to evaluate if monosized microspheres could replace (99m)Tc-MAA. Biodegradable poly(L-lactide) microspheres containing chelating bis(picolylamine) end groups were prepared by a flow focusing method on a microfluidic glass chip and were of highly homogeneous size (9.0 +/- 0.4 microm). The microspheres were radiolabeled with [(99m)Tc(H(2)O)(3)(CO)(3)](+) and then evaluated in mice for lung perfusion imaging. Fifteen minutes after injection, 79.6 +/- 3.8% of the injected activity was trapped in the lungs of mice. Monosized biodegradable radioactive microspheres are, thus, appropriate lung perfusion imaging agents. Other sizes of these highly uniform microspheres have the potential to improve diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in diverse areas of medicine.