Rational design of new micrometer-sized radiopaque composites embedded with electromagnetic shielding materials for transcatheter arterial embolisation against hepatocellular carcinoma

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is a commonly used interventional procedure for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the commonly used interventional embolization microspheres (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol) are unable to be observed under imaging devices and has to be visualized with exogenous contrast agents (e.g. iohexol), which may lead to intraoperative ectopic embolization. In this study, we synthesized poly(multi-allyl sucrose ether) visualization embolization microspheres encapsulating titanium carbide particles (TiC@PSAE) with sucrose backbone and encapsulated with electromagnetic shielding materials TiC. The synthesis method used in this study is a photo-driven radical-mediated cyclization reaction (PRMC), which enables the preparation of PSAE from sucrose multi-allyl ether monomers without degradation chain transfer. The morphology is spherical with a particle size range of 80–260 μm that can realize target embolization. Through in vivo rabbit experiments, the blood flow to the embolized kidneys is obstructed, and the embolized rabbit ears have a significant visualization effect under computed tomography (CT), demonstrating that TiC@PSAE microspheres have good imaging effects.