Li L, Wang MQ, Duan F, Zhang JL, Yuan B, Cui B, Zhang H, Yan JY. Development and evaluation of polyacrylamide microspheres loaded with phloretin and tantalum for transcatheter arterial embolization.
RSC Adv 2023;
13:35429-35434. [PMID:
38058558 PMCID:
PMC10696423 DOI:
10.1039/d3ra05841g]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcatheter arterial embolization is an effective treatment for liver cancer. However, the development of novel embolic agents remains a challenge. In this study, we evaluated polyacrylic acid microspheres loaded with phloretin and tantalum as potential embolic agents for liver cancer treatment. Microspheres were synthesised via emulsion polymerisation and characterised in terms of size, shape, and drug-loading efficiency. Nanosized tantalum powder (0 to 15%) was added to the microspheres as an X-ray blocking agent. The maximum drug-loading capacity of the microspheres was approximately 20 mg g-1. The phloretin-loaded microspheres showed a sustained drug release profile in vitro. The microspheres were also evaluated for their in vivo anticancer efficacy in a rabbit VX2 liver tumour model. In conclusion, polyacrylic acid microspheres loaded with phloretin and tantalum have great potential as novel embolic agents for transcatheter arterial embolization for liver cancer treatment.
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