title: MRI traceability of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle-embedded chitosan microspheres as an embolic material in rabbit uterus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to compare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles with calibrated superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticle-loaded chitosan microspheres in a rabbit model, specifically regarding the relative distribution of embolic agents within the uterus based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathological evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve New Zealand white rabbits underwent uterine artery embolization using either standard PVA particles (45-150 µm or 350-500 µm) or calibrated SPIO-embedded chitosan microspheres (45-150 µm or 300-500 µm). MRI and histopathological findings were compared one week after embolization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Calibrated SPIO-loaded chitosan microspheres 45-150 µm in size were detected on T2-weighted images. On histological analysis, calibrated SPIO-embedded chitosan microspheres were found in both myometrium and endometrium, whereas PVA particles were found only in the perimyometrium or extrauterine fat pads. A proportional relationship was noted between the calibrated SPIO-embedded chitosan microsphere size and the size of the occluded artery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Calibrated SPIO-embedded chitosan microspheres induced greater segmental arterial occlusion than PVA particles and showed great potential as a new embolic material. SPIO-embedded chitosan microspheres can be used to follow distribution of embolic particles through MRI studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. medmath@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Sun Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Byung Kook
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Hyung Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Jaehwi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soon Uk
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Kyung Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008863:Microspheres; D009215:Myometrium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D055357:Uterine Artery Embolization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; C000499:ferric oxide; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D048271:Chitosan