Magnetic alginate microspheres detected by MRI fabricated using microfluidic technique and release behavior of encapsulated dual drugs

Abstract

Alginate microspheres loaded with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO NPs) have been fabricated by a T-junction microfluidic device combined with an external ionic crosslinking. The obtained microspheres possess excellent visuality under magnetic resonance due to the presence of only 0.6 mg/mL SPIO NPs. The microspheres also show uniform size with narrow distribution and regular spherical shape characterized by optic microscope and environmental scanning electron microscope. Furthermore, dual drugs (5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin hydrochloride) have been loaded within the microspheres. The release behavior of dual drugs from the microspheres show typical sustained release profiles. As a novel embolic agent, such microspheres in blood vessels can be tracked by magnetic resonance scanner. Thus, the integration of embolotherapy, chemotherapy, and postoperative diagnosis can be realized.

<p>MRI Detectable Polymer Microspheres Embedded With Magnetic Ferrite Nanoclusters For Embolization: In Vitro And In Vivo Evaluation</p>

“…The inserts in Figure 7A and B demonstrated, respectively, the state of FNs and FNMs in water with or without magnetic field. Both FNs and FNMs showed fast response to the foreign magnet, which further indicated they possessed excellent magnetic property 14…”

“…MRI-visualized embolic microspheres have also been developed to improve the efficiency and safety of embolization 8,13,14. By using MRI-visualized microspheres, their position and compactness in blood vessel can be monitored by MRI and the embolic endpoints can be accurately judged, which is considered very important in chemoembolization, especially in the treatment of highly vascularized tumors.…”

“…Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have already been encapsulated in various microspheres, such as microspheres of chitosan,13,18 alginate,14,15 poly (lactic acid)/poly (ethylene glycol),19 and poly (lactide-co-glycolide),20,21 to prepare MRI-visualized embolic agents due to their relatively low cytotoxicity, long-term contrast enhancement, low cost, and easy availability. However, the imaging intensity of SPIONs embedded in microspheres is not enough in some cases when more detailed information is needed.…”

A Critical Review on the Synthesis of Natural Sodium Alginate Based Composite Materials: An Innovative Biological Polymer for Biomedical Delivery Applications

“…Na-Alg/5-Fu SEM, EDX, XRD excellent MR-visuality and multi-drug chemoembolization. [72] Na-Alg/PLGA SEM Use as Controlled and Sequential Delivery of Fluorophores [73] 2.1. Gene Delivery 2.1.1.…”

Microfluidic-Assisted Preparation of 5-Fluorouracil-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles as a Potential System for Colorectal Cancer Therapy

“…Moreover, Xue et al [25] worked on the production of 5-FU-loaded biocompatible poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate microspheres with MF device pattern of T-junction channel that resulted in a monodispersed size distribution from 16.7 to 85.7 µm in diameter, leading to utilizing for sustained drug release. Wang and coworkers [26] synthesized a dual drug-loaded magnetic alginate microsphere containing 5-FU and doxorubicin hydrochloride using MFs, combined with an external ionic crosslinking. Their results exhibited a uniform size of microspheres, excellent vision under magnetic resonance and regular spherical shape.…”