Development of a drug loaded degradable embolic particle capable of locally deliveringtherapeutic agents for transarterial chemoembolization

Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer and has the third highest death rate
world-wide. Patients are usually diagnosed once the disease has progressed to a
point where a cure is not possible. An emerging treatment to help manage this type of
cancer uses small particles to block blood from reaching the cancer while also
providing local chemotherapy. One of the problems associated with this method is
that the doctors have trouble directly seeing the particles. This lack of visibility can
lead to serious clinical problems such particles being delivered to non-target tissue.
ABK Biomedical, a Halifax based company, has developed a platform technology,
OccluRad, which is a fully visible particle for blocking blood flow in blood vessels.
This research will adapt the current technology so that it can be used to treat mid to
late stage liver cancer by blocking blood flow to the tumor and delivering a drug to at
the same time.

Faculty Supervisor:

Paul Gratzer

Student:

Partner:

ABK Biomedical Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Dalhousie University

Program: