Embolization
Embolization and related methods are disclosed.
1 . A method, comprising:
disposing a polymer into a device, the device being configured to deliver the polymer into a lumen of a subject, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of sulfonated polymers, carboxylated polymers, and phosphated polymers; and
interacting the polymer with a gelling agent to form a gel.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes interacting the polymer with the gelling agent within the device.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes interacting the polymer with the gelling agent outside of the device.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the method includes interacting the polymer with the gelling agent within the lumen of the subject.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering the gel into the lumen of the subject.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising embolizing the lumen of the subject with the gel.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the lumen of the subject is associated with a cancer condition.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a block copolymer.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer comprises a styrene monomer.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer comprises an isobutylene monomer.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer comprises an ethylene monomer.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer comprises a butylene monomer.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer comprises sulfonated styrene-isobutylene-styrene.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer comprises sulfonated styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gelling agent comprises a salt.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gelling agent comprises an organic molecule with a functional group.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gelling agent is cationic.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is disposed in a liquid in the device and the gelling agent changes the pH of the liquid to gel the polymer.
19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising incorporating a therapeutic agent into the gel.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising releasing the therapeutic agent from the gel into the lumen of the subject.
21 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising incorporating a therapeutic agent into the polymer prior to contacting the polymer with the gelling agent.
22 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising incorporating a therapeutic agent into the gelling agent prior to contacting the polymer with the gelling agent.
23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gel is dimensioned to fit within the lumen of the subject.
24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a maximum dimension of the gel is from about 1000 microns to about 2500 microns.
25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gel is used to treat a cancer condition.
26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to fit within the lumen of the subject.
27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a catheter, a syringe, or a cannula.
28 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering the gel into the lumen of the subject by percutaneous injection.
29 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising converting the gel into a non-gel form.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the gel is present in the lumen of the subject before the gel is converted into the non-gel form.
31 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising converting the gel into a liquid form.
32 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising shaping the gel within the lumen of the subject.