In vitro study of the compatibility of tris-acryl gelatin microspheres with various chemotherapeutic agents.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the in-vitro effects of chemotherapeutic agents on the physical structure of tris-acryl gelatin microspheres.


METHODS
Microspheres (Embospheres) were mixed in vitro with carboplatin, mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil, or pirarubicin as experimental samples and with distilled water as control samples and kept for 24 hours at 37 degrees C. The microspheres used measured 100-300 micro m and 700-900 micro m in diameter. Microsphere morphology, including appearance, overall shape, smoothness of surface, and thickness of gelatin coating, was examined with use of a microscope equipped with a cold light. Microsphere dimensions including larger diameter, smaller diameter, and surface area were measured by granulometry. Microsphere geometry was evaluated by calculating a sphericity index and surface regularity index. Qualitative and quantitative variables, respectively, were analyzed with the two-sided Fisher exact test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired values, with a significance level of 0.05.


RESULTS
No broken microspheres or microscopic degradations in the appearance, overall shape, smoothness of surface, or thickness of gelatin coating of any microspheres were observed. The respective distributions of large and small diameters, surface area, sphericity index, or surface regularity index of the microspheres were not significantly different between the experimental samples containing carboplatin, mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil, or pirarubicin and the control sample of microspheres with similar diameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Embosphere microspheres can be mixed with carboplatin, mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil, or pirarubicin for chemoembolization therapy without any risk of damaging their morphology, dimensions, or geometric characteristics.
Vallée
Jean-Noël
JN
Charcot Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Pitié-Salpétrière Teaching Hospital, Medical University of Paris 6, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75651 Paris Cedex 13, France. jean-noel.vallee@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr
Lo
Daouda
D
Guillevin
Remy
R
Reb
Philippe
P
Adem
Carmen
C
Chiras
Jacques
J
D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D016190:Carboplatin; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005472:Fluorouracil; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008744:Methylamines / Q000737:chemistry; D008863:Microspheres; D016685:Mitomycin
D000179:Acrylates; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008744:Methylamines; C053576:N-acryloyl-tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane; D016685:Mitomycin; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005780:Gelatin; D016190:Carboplatin; C027260:pirarubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil