Precision Embolism: Biocompatible Temperature‐Sensitive Hydrogels as Novel Embolic Materials for Both Mainstream and Peripheral Vessels

Abstract

Complete blood blockage and low ectopic embolism risk are urgently needed for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment. However, the clinically available embolic reagents still face the huge challenges of fast recanalization and undesirable migration. In the present work, a temperature‐sensitive poloxamer 407 (F127)/hydroxymethyl cellulose (HPMC)/sodium alginate (SA)‐derived hydrogel (FHSgel) is explored as a novel embolic material in the TACE treatment. With increasing temperature, this FHSgel undergoes sensitive phase transition process, so as to block both mainstream and peripheral vessels. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the close fitness between shapeable FHSgel and vessels, the embolism time is extremely extended. Moreover, the leaked FHSgel could be diluted below the gelation concentration, thus effectively preventing from ectopic embolism. TACE treatment is further conducted for rabbit liver and kidney tumors, wherein the atrophic blood vessels and necrotic tissue demonstrate superior therapy effect. In addition, all three pharmaceutical excipients are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In contrast with the clinical embolic reagents, the temperature‐sensitive FHSgel for the first time completely blocks both mainstream and peripheral vessels with totally biocompatible pharmaceutical excipients, and makes a breakthrough in terms of largely reducing the ectopic embolism risk, thus providing a new generation for interventional embolization.

Tuning Blood–Material Interactions to Generate Versatile Hemostatic Powders and Gels

“…Thermosensitive F127, commercial PEG-b-PPO-b-PEG triblock copolymer, has been widely used for developing responsive drug delivery system and biomedical gels. [28,29] In this work, F127 gel loaded with optimal PLPS2 was further developed for potential hemostatic gels to maximize the applications of such potent hemostatic particles, which was also performed to validate the tunable blood-material interactions for gel-type hemostats. F127 was dissolved in dextrose isotonic solution (30%, w/v) to prepare F127 gel, which was then mixed with varied amount of PLPS2 particles to optimize the hemostatic property of F127 gels loaded with PLPS.…”

“…[2] Among various embolic agents, responsive gels possess the advantages of complete blood occlusion, low ectopic embolism risk and convenient surgical operation. [29,30] A rabbit renal-artery-embolization model was further performed to evaluate the performance of F127-PLPS gel as new-type embolic gels (through regulating procoagulant blood-material interactions).…”

Recent Progress in Advanced Hydrogel‐Based Embolic Agents: From Rational Design Strategies to Improved Endovascular Embolization

“…Fortunately, with the development of hydrogel technology and efficient therapeutic systems, various emerging hydrogel embolic systems, such as injectable versatile hydrogels [25][26][27] and stimuli-responsive hydrogel coils, [28,29] have drawn considerable attention in recent years. The hydrogels consist of 3D network structures with favorable properties including prominent swelling ability, permeability, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility.…”

Injectable magnetic montmorillonite colloidal gel for the postoperative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

“…The recurrence time of HCC would be effectively delayed after these well-designed postoperative adjuvant therapy strategies implemented. When the secondary surgical resection was not recommended, percutaneous local ablation therapy was considered as a clinically curative treatment for postoperative recurrence [ 36 – 40 ]. MCG provided an alternative minimal invasive treatment and achieved successful interventional MHT under ultrasound guidance on VX2 tumor rabbits, which effectively prevented the postoperative recurrence.…”