BRACHYTHERAPY DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS HAVING MICROENCAPSULATED BRACHYTHERAPY MATERIALS
A brachytherapy device includes a bioabsorbable support and a plurality of microcapsules on the support. Each of the plurality of the microcapsules includes a plurality of microspheres and a bioabsorbable microcapsule wall that encloses the plurality of microspheres. The plurality of microspheres includes radiation-emitting microspheres comprising a radioactive material, radio-opaque microspheres comprising a radio-opaque material or a combination thereof.
1 . A low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy device comprising:
a bioabsorbable support;
a plurality of microcapsules on the support, each of the plurality of a microcapsules comprising a plurality of microspheres and a bioabsorbable microcapsule wall that encloses the plurality of microspheres, wherein the plurality of microspheres comprises radiation-emitting microspheres comprising a radioactive material, radio-opaque microspheres comprising a radio-opaque material or a combination thereof.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microspheres have a diameter of about 1 to 20 microns.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of microspheres are sized and configured so as to be subject to phagocytosis by macrophages in a subject after bioabsorption of the bioabsorbable support and the bioabsorbable microcapsule wall.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the bioabsorbable support and the microcapsule wall have a decay time that is greater than about two and a half times a half life of the radioactive material.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein some of the plurality of microspheres comprise a radioactive core and an outer wall.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the radioactive core comprises a radioactive material and a biocompatible polymer and/or ceramic.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein some of the plurality of microspheres comprise a porous material and a radio-isotope deposited therein.
8 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the outer wall comprises glass or acrylic.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the microcapsule wall comprises a poly-lactide, poly-glycolide, polycaprolactone, poly-trimethylene-carbonate, polyanhdride, co-polymers formed thereof, and/or combinations thereof.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the bioabsorbable support comprises a poly-lactide, poly-glycolide, polycaprolactone, poly-trimethylene-carbonate, polyanhdride, co-polymers formed thereof, and/or combinations thereof.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the bioabsorbable support is configured to seal the microcapsules therein after implantation.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein a size and/or thickness of the bioabsorbable support and/or microcapsule walls is configured to release the microspheres after a predetermined time.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined time is greater than two and a half times a half life of the radioactive material.
14 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined time is about three months.
15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the bioabsorbable support comprises a seed casing that is configured to seal the plurality of microcapsules therein prior to bioabsorption of the support.
16 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the bioabsorbable support comprises a substantially linear support having a plurality of wells therein that is configured to seal the plurality of microcapsules in respective ones of the plurality of wells prior to bioabsorption of the support.
17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the bioabsorbable support comprises a substantially planar support that is configured to seal the plurality of microcapsules therein prior to bioabsorption of the support.
18 . A microcapsule comprising:
a microcapsule outer wall;
a plurality of microspheres enclosed by the microcapsule outer wall, wherein the plurality of microspheres comprises radiation-emitting microspheres comprising a radioactive material, radio-opaque microspheres comprising a radio-opaque material or a combination thereof.
19 . The microcapsule of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of microspheres have a diameter of about 1 to 20 microns.
20 . The microcapsule of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of microspheres are sized and configured so as to be subject to phagocytosis by macrophages in a subject after bioabsorption of the bioabsorbable support and the bioabsorbable microcapsule wall.
21 . The microcapsule of claim 18 , wherein some of the plurality of microspheres comprises a radioactive core and an outer wall.
22 . The microcapsule of claim 21 , wherein the radioactive core comprises a radioactive material and a biocompatible polymer and/or ceramic.
23 . The microcapsule of claim 18 , wherein some of the plurality of microspheres comprise a porous material and a radio-isotope deposited therein.
24 . The microcapsule of claim 21 , wherein the outer wall comprises glass or acrylic.
25 . The microcapsule of claim 18 , wherein the microcapsule wall comprises a poly-lactide, poly-glycolide, polycaprolactone, poly-trimethylene-carbonate, polyanhdride, co-polymers formed thereof, and/or combinations thereof.