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

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.