Microparticle Composition for Uniform Tumor Coverage and Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) methods using yttrium-90 microparticles for treating hepatic malignancies face challenges in achieving uniform tumor coverage due to variations in vascularization, as higher specific activity microparticles may concentrate in one portion of the tumor, while lower specific activity microparticles provide better saturation but are not easily detectable.
Innovation Solution
A mixture of radioactive and non-radioactive microparticles with similar flow resistance, density, and size distribution is administered to ensure uniform distribution within the tumor vasculature, allowing for real-time imaging and improved tumor coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If higher specific activity microparticles are administered, then the number of microparticles is reduced, but tumor coverage becomes non-uniform due to concentration in one portion of the tumor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radioactive and non-radioactive microparticles into a single administered mixture. The non-radioactive microparticles act as carriers that distribute throughout the tumor vasculature, while the radioactive microparticles are delivered alongside them. This merging approach ensures uniform distribution of the radioactive particles throughout the tumor rather than concentration in one portion, resolving the contradiction between reducing particle number and maintaining uniform coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-radioactive microparticles serve as intermediaries in the administration process. They provide a distribution framework that guides the radioactive microparticles to various locations within the tumor vasculature. This intermediary approach allows the radioactive particles to be dispersed uniformly across multiple tumor regions rather than concentrating in a single area, thereby improving coverage uniformity while maintaining lower overall particle numbers.
2Manufacturing precision
If lower specific activity microparticles are administered, then tumor coverage is improved, but real-time imaging becomes difficult due to insufficient radioactivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges radioactive and non-radioactive microparticles in a controlled ratio within the same administration. This combination allows the system to benefit from both high radioactivity (for imaging) and low specific activity (for uniform distribution). The radioactive microparticles provide sufficient signal for real-time imaging while the presence of non-radioactive particles ensures uniform distribution throughout the tumor vasculature, resolving the contradiction between imaging capability and coverage uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of specific activity by creating a mixed population of microparticles with different radioactivity levels. By adjusting the ratio of radioactive to non-radioactive particles, the system optimizes both imaging visibility and distribution uniformity. This parameter change approach allows simultaneous achievement of sufficient radioactivity for imaging and low enough specific activity for uniform tumor coverage.
3Manufacturing precision
If more microparticles are administered to improve tumor coverage, then coverage uniformity is improved, but the complexity of delivery and detection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of delivery and detection into a single administered mixture. The non-radioactive microparticles provide the delivery framework and distribution pattern, while the radioactive microparticles embedded in the same mixture provide detection capability. This merging eliminates the need for separate delivery and detection systems, reducing overall complexity while maintaining improved tumor coverage uniformity through the combined effect of both particle types.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a composition that includes a mixture of (i) radioactive microparticles; and (ii) non-radioactive microparticles. The radioactive microparticles may be suitable to treat a vascularized tumour, such as a liver tumour or a metastasized liver tumour. The radioactive microparticles and the non-radioactive microparticles may have substantially the same resistance when flowing in a liquid through a conduit. The present disclosure also provides methods of making and methods of using mixtures of microparticles.