title: In vitro and in vivo dissolution behavior of a dysprosium lithium borate glass designed for the radiation synovectomy treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Dysprosium lithium borate (DyLB) glass microspheres were investigated for use in the radiation synovectomy treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In vitro testing focused on weight loss and cation dissolution from glass microspheres immersed in simulated synovial fluid (SSF) at 37 degrees C for up to 64 days. In vivo testing was performed by injecting glass microspheres into the stifle joints of Sprague-Dawley rats and monitoring the biodegradability of the microspheres and the tissue response within the joints. The DyLB microspheres reacted nonuniformly in SSF with the majority of lithium and boron being dissolved, whereas nearly all of the dysprosium (>99.7%) remained in the reacted microspheres. Because the DyLB glasses released negligible amounts of dysprosium while reacting with SSF, they are considered safe for radiation synovectomy from the standpoint of unwanted radiation release from the joint capsule. Furthermore, the DyLB microspheres fragmented, degraded, and reacted with body fluids while in the joints of rats without histologic evidence of joint damage.
authors.affiliation: Schott Glass Technologies, Inc., 400 York Avenue, Duryea, Pennsylvania 18642-2036, USA. sconzone@schottglasstech.com
authors.forename: Samuel D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Conzone
authors.forename: Roger F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Delbert E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ehrhardt
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001881:Borates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004419:Dysprosium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D007267:Injections; D008094:Lithium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D008863:Microspheres; D010587:Phagocytosis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012995:Solubility; D013583:Synovial Membrane
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001881:Borates; C455467:dysprosium lithium borate glass; D004419:Dysprosium; D008094:Lithium