Temperature sensitive nanogel-stabilized pickering emulsion of fluoroalkane for ultrasound guiding vascular embolization therapy

Abstract X-ray imaging technologies, including CT, DSA and so on, are widely used in transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) therapy on hepatocellular cancer (HCC) clinically. They still have some disadvantages, such as complex operation, ionizing radiation and others, though have high imaging contrast. Ultrasound imaging, which has the advantages of simple and fast operation, no ionizing radiation and real-time imaging, likely plays an important role on the field of medical diagnosis. Here, Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2,2,3,4,4,4-Hexafluorobutyl methacrylate) (PNF) nanogels were synthesized for stabilizing the Pickering emulsion of 2H, 3H-decafluoropentane (HDFP) named TGFPE. The emulsion had abilities of thermosensitive sol-gel transition and long-term ultrasound imaging in vitro. It was be conformed that the emulsion could achieve vascular embolization and long-term ultrasound imaging in vivo according to the results of the experiments of animal TAE therapy model. The flow and accumulation of the emulsion droplets were visualized under guidance of ultrasound imaging. In summary, the Pickering emulsion has potential to be used as ultrasound-guided embolization material for mediating TAE surgery.