title: Multimodal Imaging of Nanocomposite Microspheres for Transcatheter Intra-Arterial Drug Delivery to Liver Tumors.
abstract: A modern multi-functional drug carrier is critically needed to improve the efficacy of image-guided catheter-directed approaches for the treatment of hepatic malignancies. For this purpose, a nanocomposite microsphere platform was developed for selective intra-arterial transcatheter drug delivery to liver tumors. In our study, continuous microfluidic methods were used to fabricate drug-loaded multimodal MRI/CT visible microspheres that included both gold nanorods and magnetic clusters. The resulting hydrophilic, deformable, and non-aggregated microspheres were mono-disperse and roughly 25 um in size. Sustained drug release and strong MRI T2 and CT contrast effects were achieved with the embedded magnetic nano-clusters and radiopaque gold nanorods. The microspheres were successfully infused through catheters selectively placed within the hepatic artery in rodent models and subsequent distribution in the targeted liver tissues and hepatic tumors confirmed with MRI and CT imaging. These multimodal nanocomposite drug carriers should be ideal for selective intra-arterial catheter-directed administration to liver tumors while permitting MRI/CT visualization for patient-specific confirmation of tumor-targeted delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.|Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Dong-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Jeane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.|Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Zhuoli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Sui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.|Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, USA.|Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Evanston, IL, USA.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.|International Institute of Nanotechnology (IIN), Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008863:Microspheres; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers