Abstract: The preparation and properties of adriamycin magnetic gelatin microspheres (Adr-MG-ms) were reported. The synthesis of magnetic iron oxide ultrafine particle and embolization effects of magnetic gelatin microspheres (MG-ms) in dog were studied. Adr-MG-ms consist of 2% (w/w) of adriamycin (Adr) as the core, and 68% of gelatin and 30% of magnetite as the shell with a mean particle size of 22 μm. In vitro experiment, the release rate of drug demonstrated that the microspheres have sustained-release properties. The average diameter of magnetic iron oxide was approximately l0 nm. Transcatheter embolization with MG-ms and ^99mTc-labelled MG-ms was performed under external magenet control in dog liver, respectively. Gamma photography and angiogram revealed that MG-ms level was almost equal both in left and right hepatic arteries without magnet, while with magnet (1200 Gs), MG-ms level in left hepatic artery (target site) was about 2.25 fold higher than in right hepatic artery, and few MG-ms in thyroid gland, brain and heart was observed. Results showed that the MG-ms is a promising embolic agent for treatment of hepatic cancer under external magnet control.

Key words: Adriamycin, Adriamycin magnetic gelatin microspheres, Magnetic gelatin microspheres, Hepatic arterial embolization