Development of biodegradable radiopaque microsphere for arterial embolization-a pig study

Figure 1 The microspheres in scanning electron microscope with a magnification of 150 ×.

Figure 2 The gross appearance and fluoroscopy picture of DC bead (left), Hepasphere (middle), and our microsphere (right).

Figure 3 The angiography of hepatic artery (A) and splenic artery (B).

Figure 4 The liver perfusion scan after our microsphere, Embosphere, or Gelfoam embolization showing blood flow reduced areas (green to blue areas) over the periphery of liver.

Figure 5 Serial non-enhanced computed tomography scans of pig’s liver taken on 4, 12, and 25 d after the microsphere embolization showing its radiopaque characteristic and the gradual fade along with time (white arrow).

Figure 6 Microscopic findings of liver showing intraarterial embolization materials (black arrow) and intact peripheral liver lobules (black arrow heads) after Gelfoam (A), Embosphere (B), or our microsphere (C) embolization (H-E stain, original magnification × 40).

Figure 7 Gross appearance of spleen after Gelfoam (A), Embosphere (B), or our microsphere (C) embolization showing various degree of infarction over the distal end of spleen.

Figure 8 Microscopic findings of spleen showing intraarterial embolization materials (arrow heads) and periarterial reactions after Gelfoam (A), Embosphere (B), or our microsphere (C) embolization (H-E stain, original magnification × 40). Note the degrading Gelfoam and our microsphere and the intact Embosphere at 28 d after the embolization.