Pereira, P.L.; Plotkin, S.; Yu, R.; Sutter, A.; Wu, Y.; Sommer, C.M.; Cruise, G.M., Anti-Cancer Drugs: October 2016 - Volume 27 - Issue 9 - p 873–878.

Featured products: LifePearl™ Drug Elutable Microspheres

• LifePearl (200 µm), DC Bead (100–300 µm), and Tandem (100 µm) microspheres were loaded with irinotecan.
• For loading, elution, and stability determinations, irinotecan concentrations were quantified using validated high-performance liquid chromatography methods. In-vitro elution was performed over 24 h using a USP 4 dissolution apparatus.
• Diameter measurements were performed using light microscopy.
• Time in suspension was considered as the time required for the microspheres to vacate 1/3 of the volume.

• All three microsphere types rapidly loaded irinotecan, with more than 95% loading at 1 h.
• In-vitro elution of irinotecan was rapid for LifePearl and DC Bead microspheres, with more than 98% elution at 1 h, and delayed for Tandem microspheres, with about 70% elution at 6 h.
• After loading with irinotecan, the average diameter of LifePearl and DC Bead microspheres was reduced by 9 and 18%, respectively, and was unchanged for Tandem microspheres.
• All three microsphere types lost 4–6% of the loaded irinotecan almost immediately upon placement in contrast: water and contrast: 5% dextrose, but further losses were minimal over 2 weeks.
• LifePearl microspheres remained longer in suspension (392±23 s) compared with DC Bead (154±13 s, P<0.001) and Tandem (198±19 s, P<0.001) microspheres.

All three microsphere types load irinotecan rapidly. LifePearl and DC Bead microspheres elute irinotecan rapidly. Elution is delayed with Tandem microspheres. LifePearl microspheres show the longest time in suspension.

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