Radioembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Built-In Dosimetry: First Results with Uniformly-Sized, Biodegradable Microspheres Labeled with Re.

A common form of treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with non-degradable glass or resin microspheres (MS) labeled with Y (Y-MS). To further simplify the dosimetry calculations in the clinical setting, to have more control over the particle size and to change the permanent embolization to a temporary one, we developed uniformly-sized, biodegradable Re-labeled MS (Re-MS) as a new and easily imageable TARE agent. MS made of poly(-lactic acid) were produced in a flow focusing microchip.

Current update of a thermosensitive liposomes composed of DPPC and Brij78.

Thermosensitive liposomes (TSLs) have been a prominent area of study in the discipline of tumour-targeted chemotherapeutics. The representative product of TSLs is ThermoDox (DPPC/lyso-PC/PEG-lipid), which has advanced to Phase III clinical trials. Various groups have sought to develop a new TSL to improve upon the LTSL (lyso-lipid temperature-sensitive liposomes) formulation that is used to prepare ThermoDOX.

A single microfluidic chip with dual surface properties for protein drug delivery.

Principles of double emulsion generation were incorporated in a glass microfluidic chip fabricated with two different surface properties in order to produce protein loaded polymer microspheres. The microspheres were produced by integrating two microfluidic flow focusing systems and a multi-step droplet splitting and mixing system into one chip. The chip consists of a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic section with two different heights, 12μm and 45μm, respectively.

Re image performance assessment using small animal multi-pinhole SPECT/PET/CT system.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to investigate the performance of a pre-clinical SPECT/PET/CT system for Re imaging.

Methods: Phantom experiments were performed aiming to assess the characteristics of two multi-pinhole collimators: ultra-high resolution collimator (UHRC) and high-energy ultra high resolution collimator (HE-URHC) for imaging Re. The spatial resolution, image contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were investigated using micro-Jaszczak phantoms.

Magnetic nanoparticle and magnetic field assisted siRNA delivery in vitro.

This chapter describes how to design and conduct experiments to deliver siRNA to adherent cell cultures in vitro by magnetic force-assisted transfection using self-assembled complexes of small interfering RNA (siRNA) and cationic lipids or polymers that are associated with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). These magnetic complexes are targeted to the cell surface by the application of a gradient magnetic field. A further development of the magnetic drug-targeting concept is combining it with an ultrasound-triggered delivery using magnetic microbubbles as a carrier for gene or drug delivery.

Lung perfusion imaging with monosized biodegradable microspheres.

After intravenous injection, particles larger than red blood cells will be trapped in the first capillary bed that they encounter. This is the principle of lung perfusion imaging in nuclear medicine, where macroaggregated albumin (MAA) is radiolabeled with (99m)Tc, infused into a patient's arm vein, and then imaged with gamma scintigraphy. Our aim was to evaluate if monosized microspheres could replace (99m)Tc-MAA.