Issue 19, 2021

Magnetic liquid metal loaded nano-in-micro spheres as fully flexible theranostic agents for SMART embolization

Abstract

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has become one of the preferred choices for advanced liver cancer patients. Current clinically used microsphere embolic agents, such as PVA, gelatin, and alginate microspheres, have limited therapeutic efficacy and lack the function of real-time imaging. In this work, we fabricated magnetic liquid metal nanoparticle (Fe@EGaIn NP) loaded calcium alginate (CA) microspheres (denoted as Fe@EGaIn/CA microspheres), which integrate CT/MR dual-modality imaging and photothermal/photodynamic functions of the Fe@EGaIn NP core, as well as embolization and drug-loading functions of CA microspheres. Namely, such nano-in-micro spheres can be used as fully flexible theranostic agents to achieve smart-chemoembolization. It has been confirmed by in vitro and in vivo experiments that Fe@EGaIn/CA microspheres have advantageous morphology, favorable biocompatibility, splendid versatility, and advanced embolic efficacy. Benefiting from these properties, excellent therapeutic efficiency was achieved with a tumor growth-inhibiting value of 100% in tumor-bearing rabbits. As a novel microsphere embolic agent with promising therapeutic efficacy and diagnostic capability, Fe@EGaIn/CA microspheres have shown potential applications in clinical transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. And the preparation strategy presented here provides a generalized paradigm for achieving multifunctional and fully flexible theranostics.

Graphical abstract: Magnetic liquid metal loaded nano-in-micro spheres as fully flexible theranostic agents for SMART embolization

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Feb 2021
Accepted
24 Mar 2021
First published
24 Mar 2021

Nanoscale, 2021,13, 8817-8836

Magnetic liquid metal loaded nano-in-micro spheres as fully flexible theranostic agents for SMART embolization

D. Wang, Q. Wu, R. Guo, C. Lu, M. Niu and W. Rao, Nanoscale, 2021, 13, 8817 DOI: 10.1039/D1NR01268A

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