Preparation and structure of drug-carrying biodegradable microspheres designed for transarterial chemoembolization therapy

Abstract

Biodegradable poly(D,L-lactic acid) drug-eluting microspheres containing anti-tumor drugs, cisplatin, and sorafenib tosylate have been prepared by the emulsion solvent evaporation method with diameter between 200 and 400 μm. Scanning electron microscopy showed that cisplatin microspheres had smooth surfaces, while sorafenib tosylate microspheres and cisplatin + sorafenib tosylate microspheres were porous at the surface and the pits of the latter were larger than those of the former. Notably, cisplatin + sorafenib tosylate microspheres had a fast drug release rate compared with microspheres containing one drug alone. In vitro cytotoxicity experiments and classical matrigel endothelial tube assay certificated the maintaining bioactivity of cisplatin and sorafenib tosylate released from the microspheres, respectively. This work provides a useful approach for the fabrication of drug-eluting beads used in transarterial chemoembolization.

Keywords:

• tumor embolization
• TACE
• microspheres
• drug release
• biodegradable
• sorafenib tosylate

Additional information

Funding

Funding. This study is a part of the Interreg IV-A project ‘BioMiMedics’ (www.biomimedics.org). The Universities of Maastricht, Liège (Belgium), Hasselt (Belgium), and Aachen (Germany; RWTH and Fachhochschule), as well as several regional biotechnological enterprises cooperate in ‘BioMiMedics.’ This particular study was financed through generous contributions of the EU (through Interreg IV-A); the government of the Province Dutch Limburg; the Dutch National Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture & Innovation, Maastricht University; the Limburg Bank for Industry Innovation (LIOF); and the company INterface BIOmaterials BV in Geleen, Netherlands.