Local carboplatin delivery and tissue distribution in livers after radiofrequency ablation.

This study investigated the local drug pharmacokinetics of intralesional drug delivery after radiofrequency ablation of the liver. We hypothesized that the tissue architecture damaged by the ablation process facilitates the drug penetration in the liver and potentially enlarges the therapeutic margin in the local treatment of cancer. The delivery rate and tissue distribution of carboplatin, an anticancer agent, released from poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) implants into rat livers after radiofrequency ablation were quantified by atomic absorption spectroscopy.

X-ray computed tomography methods for in vivo evaluation of local drug release systems.

Recent advances in drug delivery techniques have necessitated the development of tools for in vivo monitoring of drug distributions. Gamma emission imaging and magnetic resonance imaging suffer from problems of resolution and sensitivity, respectively. We propose that the combination of X-ray CT imaging and image analysis techniques provides an excellent method for the evaluation of the transport of platinum-containing drugs from a localized, controlled release source.

Noninvasive monitoring of local drug release using X-ray computed tomography: optimization and in vitro/in vivo validation.

In vivo release profiles of drug-loaded biodegradable implants were noninvasively monitored and characterized using X-ray computed tomography (CT). The imaging method was adapted and optimized to quantitatively examine the release of an active agent from a model cylindrical PLGA device (the millirod) into rabbit livers over 48 h. Iohexol, a CT contrast agent, served as a model drug; optimization of CT acquisition parameters yielded a sensitivity of 0.

Noninvasive monitoring of local drug release in a rabbit radiofrequency (RF) ablation model using X-ray computed tomography.

In this study, X-ray computed tomography (CT) was utilized as a noninvasive method to directly examine local drug release kinetics in livers before and following radiofrequency thermal ablation. Iohexol, a CT contrast agent, was used as a drug-mimicking molecule. Release of iohexol in healthy and ablated rabbit livers over 48 h was quantified and correlated with the release profiles from phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) in vitro.

In vivo drug distribution dynamics in thermoablated and normal rabbit livers from biodegradable polymers.

Image-guided radiofrequency ablation combined with intratumoral drug delivery provides a novel and minimally invasive treatment of liver cancers. In this study, the in vivo transport properties of doxorubicin in thermoablated and nonablated rabbit livers were characterized and compared. Doxorubicin was released from polymer implants (millirods) to the ablated and nonablated liver tissue.