Development of biodegradable radiopaque microsphere for arterial embolization-a pig study.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a new type of calibrated, biodegradable, and imaging detectable microsphere and evaluated its embolization safety and efficacy on pig's liver and spleen.


METHODS
Six kinds of pharmaceutical excipient were combined and atomized to form our microsphere. Twenty-four male Lanyu pigs weighing 25-30 kg were used. The arteries of spleen and liver were embolized with Gelfoam, Embosphere, or our microsphere. The serum biochemical tests, computed tomography (CT), liver perfusion scan, and tissue microscopy examination were done to evaluate the safety and efficacy of embolization.


RESULTS
Radiopaque microspheres with a size ranging from 300 to 400 μm were produced. Embolization of hepatic and splenic artery of pigs with our microsphere significantly reduced the blood flow of liver and resulted in splenic infarction. The follow-up CT imaging and the microscopic examination showed intraarterial degradation of Gelfoam and microsphere. The blood tests demonstrated insignificant changes with regards to liver and renal functions.


CONCLUSIONS
Our microspheres, with the unique characteristics, can be used for transcatheter arterial embolization with effects equivalent to or better than Gelfoam and Embosphere in pigs.
Yi-Sheng Liu, Hong-Ming Tsai, Chen-Miao Chou, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Yi-Sheng
YS
Liu
Yi-Sheng Liu, Hong-Ming Tsai, Chen-Miao Chou, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Xi-Zhang
XZ
Lin
Yi-Sheng Liu, Hong-Ming Tsai, Chen-Miao Chou, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Hong-Ming
HM
Tsai
Yi-Sheng Liu, Hong-Ming Tsai, Chen-Miao Chou, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Hung-Wen
HW
Tsai
Yi-Sheng Liu, Hong-Ming Tsai, Chen-Miao Chou, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Guan-Cheng
GC
Chen
Yi-Sheng Liu, Hong-Ming Tsai, Chen-Miao Chou, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Syuan-Fong
SF
Chen
Yi-Sheng Liu, Hong-Ming Tsai, Chen-Miao Chou, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Jui-Wen
JW
Kang
Yi-Sheng Liu, Hong-Ming Tsai, Chen-Miao Chou, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Chen-Miao
CM
Chou
Yi-Sheng Liu, Hong-Ming Tsai, Chen-Miao Chou, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
Chiung-Yu
CY
Chen
Arterial embolization; Atomization; Microsphere; Pharmaceutical excipient