title: An Attempt to Shorten Loading Time of Epirubicin into DC Beads®Using Vibration and a Sieve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the possibility of shortening the time required for loading epirubicin into calibrated polyvinyl alcohol-based hydrogel beads (DC Beads®) to be used for transarterial chemoembolization.
  
  
  METHODS
  After separating the beads suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution by the use of a sieve (clearance 75 µm), epirubicin hydrochloride (EH) was loaded for 20, 30, or 60 s under vibration into DC beads. The EH loading rate into conventionally prepared (control) beads, i.e., beads loaded for 30 min without vibration, and vibration-loaded beads were calculated from the residual EH concentration in the bead-depleted EH solution. The amount of EH eluted from conventionally and vibration-loaded samples into a PBS solution (pH 7.0) was measured at 15 and 30 min and 1, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h. We also recorded the inhibitory effect of the PBS solution on the loading time. Using frozen sections, the EH load in the beads was evaluated visually under a fluorescence microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spectrophotometry (495 nm) showed that the loading rate was 98.98 ± 0.34, 99.02 ± 0.32, and 99.50 ± 0.11 % with 20-, 30-, and 60-s vibration, respectively. The eluted rate was statistically similar between vibration- and statically loaded (control) beads. The PBS solution hampered EH loading into the beads. Visually, the distribution of EH in conventionally and vibration-loaded DC beads was similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of vibration and the removal of PBS solution when epirubicin hydrochloride was loaded into DC beads dramatically shortened the loading time of epirubicin hydrochloride into DC beads.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Setatsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan. akinagasonoda@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Akinaga
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sonoda
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Setatsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nitta
authors.affiliation: Central Research Laboratory, Shiga University of Medical Science, Setatsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Takefumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Setatsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomozawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Setatsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Setatsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Shobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Setatsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murata
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008863:Microspheres; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013997:Time Factors; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004337:Drug Carriers; C062364:polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel; D015251:Epirubicin; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol
keywords: Calibrated polyvinyl alcohol-based hydrogel beads; DC beads; Epirubicin hydrochloride load; PBS solution; Shortening effect; Vibration