title: [Preparation and biological characteristics of a new doxorubicin-gelatin-microspheres for hepatic artery embolization].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prepare a new doxorubicin-gelatin-microspheres (DR-GMs) suitable for hepatic artery chemoembolization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oxidized dextran and glutaraldehyde were used respectively as crosslinking agent for preparing DR-GMs. Orthogonal design was employed to optimize the preparation of the oxidized dextran cross-linked GMs. The morphology, swelling, and in vitro and in vivo degrading were compared between the two groups of microspheres, both with 60% degree of cross-linking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The granulometers of both groups of microspheres fitted for hepatic artery embolization. The roundness of the microspheres (observed with scanning electron microscope) crosslinked by oxidized-dextran was better than those crosslinked by glutaraldehyde. The microspheres crosslinked by oxidized-dextran had an average diameter of (78.2 +/- 8.1) microm, and a narrow size distribution (76.4 +/- 3.2)%, which ranged from 50 to 125 microm. The drug content rate and encapsulation rate of the microspheres crosslinked by oxidized-dextran were (87.5 +/- 0.9)% and (12.2 +/- 1.1)% respectively, higher than those crosslinked by glutaraldehyde (P < 0.01). The cumulative release rate of doxorubicin from the microspheres crosslinked by oxidized-dextran in 12 hours was 83.2%, lower than that from the microspheres crosslinked by glutaraldehyde (P < 0.01). The in vitro and in vivo studies found that the duration of degradation of the microspheres crosslinked by oxidized-dextran appeared longer than those crosslinked by glutaraldehyde.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxidized-dextran is a better crosslinking agent for preparing DR-GMs, because it has more advantages over glutaraldehyde as for hepatic artery chemoembolization.
authors.affiliation: Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xiao-li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-geng
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Dong-hui
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Chuan-qin
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008863:Microspheres
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003911:Dextrans; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005780:Gelatin