Embolization with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) microspheres: In-vivo studies

In this study polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), produced by a methanol-utilizing b acteria, was used to prepare microspheres in the 120-200 mu m size range fo r embolization. A solvent evaporation technique was utilized to obtain micr ospheres in which methylene chloride, distilled water and polyvinyl alcohol were used as the solvent, precipitation medium and emulsifier, respectivel y. Dogs were the test animals. Renal angiograms obtained before and after e mbolization and also the histopathological observations showed the feasibil ity of using these microspheres as an alternative embolization/chemoemboliz ation agent.