Two-in-One Visual Gelatin Embolization Microspheres for Precise Localization and Rapid Embolization Studies

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has played a huge role in interventional therapy and tumor embolization of organ hemorrhage and accidental hemorrhage. The selection of embolic materials with better biocompatibility is an important part of TAE. In this work, we prepared a gelatin microspheres (GMs) embolization material that simultaneously encapsulates silver sulfide quantum dots (Ag2S QDs) and barium sulfate (BaSO4), giving it good near-infrared second region (NIR-II) imaging and X-ray imaging effects, while luminescence effect of NIR-II is better than that of X-ray, which breaks the limitation of traditional embolization microspheres with only X-ray imaging. In order to improve the therapeutic effect on tumors, we loaded doxorubicin (DOX) antitumor drugs inside the microspheres and bound thrombin on the surface of the microspheres. Thereby, not only can it help achieve rapid embolization during hemostasis, but its sustained release can also accelerate tumor necrosis. The microspheres have good biocompatibility and blood compatibility. Preliminary application results show that the microspheres can achieve a good embolization effect in the ear artery and renal artery of New Zealand white rabbits. Thus, they can be used as a potential embolization system for drug delivery as well as an effective material for arterial embolization and hemostasis. Significantly, this work realizes the clinical embolization application of NIR-II combined with X-ray multimodal imaging technology in biomedical imaging.