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International Journal of Nanomedicine logoLink to International Journal of Nanomedicine
. 2013 Apr 18;8:1499–1506. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S41462

Hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge loaded with 5-fluorouracil for treatment of tumors

Wei Sun 1, Yinghui Chen 2,✉, Weien Yuan 3,✉
PMCID: PMC3632586  PMID: 23626465

Abstract

Background

Surgical tumor resection is the main treatment for tumors however the treatment process often results in massive bleeding and tumor cell residue. The main aim of this research was to address problems such as bleeding, systemic chemotherapy side effects while enhancing quality of life, and increasing drug concentrations at the tumor site by developing a novel formulation with local long-term efficacy for treatment of tumors and to stop bleeding.

Methods

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was suspended in an ethyl acetate solution of poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and a vacuum drying method was applied. The hemostatic gelatin sponge loaded with 5-FU was prepared by absorption of the suspension. The in vitro and in vivo characteristics of the hemostatic gelatin sponge loaded with 5-FU (5-FU-HAGS) were investigated.

Results

5-FU-HAGS (hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge loaded with 5-fluorouracil) was successfully produced with controlled release of the content and was reproducibly suitable for local tumor treatment as an implant to stop bleeding. The encapsulation efficiency of 5-FU-HAGS was above 98%. The in vitro 5-FU release kinetic profile matched a near zero-order equation for 20 days. The in vivo 5-FU plasma concentration was at a more stable level than when 5-FU solution was administered by subcutaneous injection. Bleeding can be stopped more effectively by coating a piece of blank gelatin sponge. The survival ratio of tumor-bearing mice using a 5-FU-HAGS subcutaneous implant was higher when compared to mice given a subcutaneous injection of 5-FU solution.

Conclusion

The 5-FU-HAGS system is a potential and effective way of enhancing the survival ratio and improving the quality of life of tumor-bearing mice.

Keywords: absorbable gelatin sponge, 5-fluorouracil, sustained-release, tumor

Introduction

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is used as a chemotherapy drug to treat pancreatic tumors,12 colorectal cancer,3–6 actinic keratosis,78 and breast tumors.9–12 Subcutaneous or intravenous injection of the drug results in systemic chemotherapy side effects, and a sustained drug delivery system at the tumor site can enhance the antitumor effects of the drug.13,14 Research has confirmed these results in animals.13,14 5-FU has been developed into different delivery systems, including biodegradable microspheres,15 5-FU-loaded bovine serum albumin nanospheres,16 5-FU-sustained release biodegradable microspheres of poly(methylidene malonate 2.1.2) for the treatment of brain tumor,17 suspensions of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) 5-FU-loaded microspheres for the treatment of malignant glioma,18 5-FU-loaded poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-acrylamide) hydrogels for in vivo drug administration,19 matrix containing 5-FU spraycoated with Eudragit® S100 (Rohm GmbH & Co., KG, Kirschenallee D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany),20 and poly(butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles for topical delivery of 5-FU21–29

However, for Phase I cancer patients surgical tumor resections with chemotherapy is still the main treatment method. When these patients receive surgical tumor resections, the patients often bleed excessively, and a few tumor cells remain internally.30 In order to stop the bleeding and to assist therapy, a novel device has been developed.30,31 However, the aim of these devices was to assist therapy for the enhancement of the cells in blood or were only for in vitro studies.

Thus, in this research, hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge loaded with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU-HAGS) were prepared by absorption, and in vitro 5-FU release and in vivo therapy effects were studied to evaluate the efficiency of these systems for 5-FU administration.

Materials and methods

Materials

Poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid ([PLGA] L (lactide acid):G(glycolic acid) = 50:50, molecular weight 47 kDa) was from Evonik Industries AG (Rellinghauser Essen, Germany). Hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge was obtained from Nanjing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.,(Nanjing, People’s Republic of China). Dichloromethane (analytical reagent), Ethyl acetate ([EA] analytical reagent), and 5-FU were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St Louis, MO, USA). The hemostatic gelatin sponge and 5-FU were used as received.

Animals

Male BALB/c mice (weighing 20±1 grams at 6–8 weeks of age) were used for in vivo antitumor evaluation. Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (weighing 200 ± 25 grams) were used to measure the in vivo release of 5-FU. Animals were purchased from Shanghai Laboratory Animal Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Shanghai, People’s Republic of China). Animals were maintained under standardized conditions at a room temperature of 22°C ± 1°C.

Preparation of 5-FU-HAGS

5-FU was provided as a water soluble drug and the drug was directly absorbed into the pure absorbable gelatin sponge without sustained release. PLGA was suitable for sustained-release of 5-FU when 5-FU was suspended in PLGA organic solvents and the drug surface was coated with PLGA.36–30 To obtain sustained-release of 5-FU, 5-FU-HAGS was made with a piece of hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge (2.5 cm × 1 cm) which fully absorbed a suspension of 1 mL of 10% PLGA EA solution containing 20 mg of 5-FU (the particle size of the drug was 5.3 ± 1.2 μm). The suspension was made by vortex mixing for 10 minutes and was absorbed completely by the hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge after 5 minutes. After initial drying, the 5-FU-HAGS were refrigerated at −4°C and the EA was evaporated for 24 hours, followed by further drying in a vacuum below 0.1 millibar for 48 hours at 25°C ± 2°C to remove remaining EA residue. The process of rapidly evaporating EA may reduce the size of the holes in the PLGA coating, and decrease the burst of 5-FU.

Preparation of 5-FU-HAGS to stop bleeding

When the freshly prepared 5-FU-HAGS had been refrigerated at −4°C and the EA had evaporated for 8 hours, the pure absorbable gelatin sponge was adhered to the surface of 5-FU-HAGS and then refrigerated at −4°C and the EA evaporated for 16 hours. It was further evaporated in a vacuum below 0.1 millibar for 48 hours at room temperature to remove remaining EA residue. 5-FU (20 mg) was dissolved in 0.9% sodium chloride solution and added directly to the sponge as another control group.

Optical microscopic imaging of 5-FU-HAGS

Images of 5-FU-HAGS were taken with a light microscope (SMZ445/460, Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan).

Encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release profiles

The 2.5 cm × 0.5 cm hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge was used in this study. The 5-FU was absorbed uniformly in the hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge because it had been immersed in 5-FU and PLGA organic solvent suspensions. The amount of 5-FU absorbed into the 5-FU-HAGS was determined by the process of dissolving 5-FU-HAGS in chloroform and extracting the 5-FU in phosphate buffer (1 mM, pH 7.4). 5-FU was quantified by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy.36 5-FU-HAGS were incubated in vials containing 3 mL of phosphate-buffered saline ([PBS] 100 mM, pH 7.4) at 37°C with constant shaking at the rate of 150 rpm. For 5-FU release, the release medium was replaced with fresh buffer on a scheduled date and the content of 5-FU was measured by UV/Vis spectroscopy. For each sample, the 5-FU release experiment was repeated five times and release profiles were calculated based on the average of three experiments.

5-FU-HAGS administration routes for in vivo release tests

The 15 SD rats were kept on a 12 hour light/dark cycle. The animals were fed standard rat food and water, and divided into three groups (five rats per group). Group 1 consisted of SD rats that were subcutaneously implanted in the upper part of the back with the hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge and were used as the negative control group. Group 2 consisted of SD rats that were subcutaneously implanted in the upper part of the back with the 5-FU-HAGS and were used as the test group (34.8 mg of 5-FU per kg of body weight). Group 3 consisted of SD rats that were subcutaneously injected with 0.5 mL of a water solution of 5-FU and were used as the positive control group (34.8 mg of 5-FU per kg of body weight). The actual amount of 5-FU-HAGS that was implanted into the animals to study in vivo release was 6.96 ± 0.87 mg.

Determination of the in vivo release of 5-FU concentration in plasma

After the subcutaneous implant of 5-FU-HAGS and the injection of the 5-FU solutions were performed, the rats were anaesthetized using halothane at determined times. Blood samples (0.8 mL) from each animal were collected into heparinized (75 units in 15μl water) polypropylene tubes by puncturing the eye vein at 0.1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 20 days after implantation. The blood samples were centrifuged at 11,000 g for 15 minutes in an Eppendorf 5414D centrifuge (Eppendorf AG, Hamburg, Germany) immediately after collection, to obtain plasma samples. Plasma proteins were removed by precipitation by adding 2 M trichloroacetic acid (6 μL of trichloroacetic acid per 100 μL of plasma sample), and after centrifugation (at 11,000 g for 6 minutes), the plasma samples were stored at −20°C. 5-FU was extracted from the plasma samples with EA according to the following method:41 100 μL of PBS (0.5 M, pH 8) and 6 mL of EA were added to 500 μL of plasma sample, and after vigorous shaking for 6 minutes and centrifugation (4000 g, 3 minutes), the EA phase was collected. The EA phase was evaporated using nitrogen gas at 55°C and the dried samples were redissolved with 100 μL of 0.01 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4, pH 4). The 5-FU concentration in the plasma samples was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (Shimadzu LC-10ATVP, Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan). The separation column was a reversed-phase C18 column (Atlantis T3 Column, 100Å, 3 μm, 1 mm × 150 mm, 1/pkg; Waters Corporation, Milford, MA, USA). The mobile phase was 0.01 M KH2PO4 (pH 4). The flow rate of the mobile phase was 1 mL/min and the wavelength of the detector was 266 nm. In order to measure the content of 5-FU, 5-FU standards of 0.1–100 μg/mL in PBS (1 mM, pH7.4) were measured and pooled drug-free plasma with known amounts of 5-FU dissolution in plasma were used. In both cases, 5-FU standard curves were measured for external standardization, and linear curves with a correlation coefficient of 0.987 were produced from the area under the UV absorption peak measurements. The 5-FU retention time was 10.4 ± 0.3 minutes. From the area under the UV absorption peak measurements of plasma 5-FU concentration versus time, a decreased rate of 5-FU concentration in plasma was calculated by the slope of the straight line from the time of maximum 5-FU concentration, the absence of 5-FU in plasma, and the circulating blood volume of SD rats. For calculating the circulating blood volume of SD rats, the recommended mean value of 64 mL/kg of body weight was used.32

5-FU-HAGS administration routes for in vivo efficacy studies

The local antitumor efficacy studies were carried out in male BALB/c mice bearing colon carcinoma. All animal experiments were performed in accordance with protocols approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. For in vivo implantation, CT26.WT cells were suspended in PBS (pH 7.4) and injected subcutaneously in the dorsal cervical at a concentration of 5 × 106 cells in 0.2 mL of PBS. When the tumor volume reached the expected size, the mice were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10), and that day was defined as day 0. Group 1 consisted of BALB/c mice that were subcutaneously implanted with the hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge at the tumor site and were the negative control group. Group 2 consisted of BALB/c mice that were subcutaneously implanted with the 5-FU-HAGS at the tumor site and were the study group (34.8 mg of 5-FU per kg of weight). Group 3 consisted of BALB/c mice that were subcutaneously injected with 0.2 mL of 5-FU in water at the tumor site and were the positive control group (34.8 mg/kg 5-FU solution was administrated once). All the mice were numbered, and the tumor length and width were measured before each administration. The tumor volume was calculated according to the formula: volume = 0.5 × (L × W2), where L is the tumor major axis. Survival rate of effect was studied according to the Survival rate of effect = S × 100%/T, (S: survival mice, T:sum test mice) of the number of therapy mice.

The effect on tumor recurrence after resection with 5-FU-HAGS

In order to study the effect on tumor recurrence after resection with 5-FU-HAGS, 20 male BALB/c colon carcinoma-bearing mice were randomly divided into two groups, group 1 and group 2, when the average volume of the tumor was 400 ± 45 mm3. The 5-FU-HAGS was used to stop bleeding and for local therapy after resection of the tumors in group 1. Gelatin sponge alone was used to stop bleeding and was the control in group 2. The volume of tumor was 200 mm3 and this was the standard for tumorigenesis.

Statistical analysis

The data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. Statistically significant differences were determined using the one-way ANOVA test and P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results and discussion

Morphology of the 5-FU-HAGS

The morphology of the 5-FU-HAGS was characterized with an Olympus μ710 camera (Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). Figure 1 shows the morphology of the 5-FU-HAGS and HAGS. We found that the 5-FU-HAGS were smaller in volume than free 5-FU-HAGS. This was possibly because the hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge had adsorbed the 5-FU PLGA suspension and the PLGA had made the gelatin sponge compressed and smaller in volume.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Microscope images of 5-fluorouracil-loaded hemostatic gelatin sponges. (A) Blank hemostatic gelatin sponge and (B) 5-fluorouracil-loaded hemostatic gelatin sponge.

Encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics for 5-FU-HAGS

The encapsulation efficiency of 5-FU-HAGS was 95.5% ±3.9%, and the encapsulation efficiency of 5-FU alone absorbed into the hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge was 40.5% ± 4.9%. This was because 5-FU powder alone precipitated in the EA solution, while the 5-FU powder suspended in PLGA EA solution deposited less in comparison. The PLGA EA solution was more viscous than the EA solution.

Figure 2 summarizes the 5-FU release profile for 5-FU-HAGS. The 5-FU-HAGS showed an almost zero-order 5-FU release profile (the release kinetics equation was: QA = 3.1822t + 13.774, R2 = 0.9938, (where QA = amount of release 5-FU; t = release time) from day 1 to day 25). This was possibly because the degradation rate of the hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge was more rapid than the PLGA degradation rate when the 5-FU-HAGS was incubated in 2 mL of PBS at 37°C.30,31 The degradation of this hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge led to sufficient penetration of water and produced drug molecular diffusion channels for 5-FU release. At the same time, the 5-FU diffusion distance and concentration from inner to outer of the sponge decreased due to PLGA and hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge degradation, so the release of 5-FU remained at a relatively constant rate (namely by a combination 5-FU release course of erosion and diffusion). The result that we reported in previous studies were observed.30,31 The release profile of 5-FU alone absorbed in the hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge was almost 100% in 2 hours. This was because the PLGA had sustained-release for 5-FU when it was suspended in PLGA organic solvents and the drug surface was coated with PLGA. Because 5-FU was water soluble, the drug was directly absorbed into the pure absorbable gelatin sponge without sustained-release.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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In vitro release profile of the 5-fluorouracil-loaded hemostatic gelatin sponge (n = 5).

Abbreviation: 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil.

Release of 5-FU in the in vivo rat study

The release of 5-FU from the 5-FU-HAGS concentration of 5-FU in plasma with time (Figure 3). There was a rapid release of 5-FU from the 5-FU-HAGS during the initial release phase, and the 5-FU concentration in plasma reached a maximum (Figure 3A) of 2.3 ± 0.23 μg/mL from 5-FU-HAGS at 24 hours after implant, and relatively more stable plasma concentrations were sustained from day 2 to day 20 when compared to the subcutaneous 5-FU solutions that were injected. A decrease in the rate of 5-FU concentration in plasma could be calculated from the straight line slope from the time of maximum 5-FU concentration in plasma to the time of free drug in plasma, and the circulating blood volume of rats. The circulating blood volume of rats32 is 58–70 mL/kg of body weight, and the suggested mean value was 64 mL/kg of body weight.32 Thus, the decrease in the rate of 5-FU concentration in plasma was 2.4 ± 0.18 μg/day Subcutaneous administration of 5-FU water solutions at 34.8 mg/kg doses resulted in a maximum 5-FU concentration of 17.9 ± 1.1 μg/mL 30 minutes after administration, and 5-FU was measured in plasma for 5 hours (Figure 3B). The area under the plasma level versus time curve of 5-FU implanted from 5-FU-HAGS was 12 times more than that of subcutaneously injected 5-FU in water. This was possibly because the 5-FU-HAGS always stably released 5-FU in plasma and resulted in keeping the drug concentration in plasma over a longer of time, and could reduce the sum clearance rate of the drug in plasma.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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In vivo plasma concentration of 5-fluorouracil-loaded hemostatic gelatin sponge (administration dose: 34.8 mg/kg once; n = 5). (A) 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) solution and (B) 5-FU-loaded hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge.

Abbreviation: 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil.

In vivo efficacy study and toxicity

To compare the antitumor efficacy of 5-FU-HAGS and the 5-FU aqueous solution, BALB/c mice bearing colon carcinoma were either subcutaneously implanted with 5-FU-HAGS at the tumor site, or subcutaneously injected with 5-FU aqueous solution at 34.8 mg/kg with 0.5% sodium chloride (continuous infusion of 34.8 mg/kg 5-FU once as the control group). Changes in tumor volume, tumor weight, and the survival rate of mice were measured for 30 days. Figures 4 and 5 show that 5-FU-HAGS or 5-FU aqueous solution achieved a significant increase in antitumor efficacy and enhanced the survival rate of mice compared to that of the control group. The lower ratio of tumor volume to weight, and the higher survival ratio from the 5-FU-HAGS group surpassed that of the group administered with the 5-FU aqueous solution. The toxicity of 5-FU-HAGS was evaluated by detecting changes in body weight. The change in body weight of mice in the control group, the group administered with 5-FU solution, and the group given 5-FU-HAGS was monitored every 3 days during the experiment. However, no significant differences were observed in the body weights between the untreated groups (no 5-FU-HAGS) and the group treated with 5-FU-HAGS (P > 0.05). The study showed that bleeding had stopped in mice in the 5-FU-HAGS group and only decreased 20% more of the bleeding time than that of blank gelatin sponge. When the pure hemostatic gelatin sponge was attached to the 5-FU-HAGS, the bleeding had stopped and this effect was almost equal to that observed with the pure hemostatic gelatin sponge. These results suggest that the 5-FU-HAGS equaled to stopping bleeding work of the HAGS.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Effect of 5-fluorouracil-loaded hemostatic gelatin sponge on tumor volume.

Notes: Error bars represent the standard deviation for 10 mice per group. P < 0.05 calculated using a one-way ANOVA test.

Abbreviation: 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil.

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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Effect of the 5-fluorouracil-loaded hemostatic gelatin sponge on survival.

Abbreviation: 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil.

The intratumor administration of a sustained-release antitumor drug system to tumor-bearing mice33,34 showed significantly greater antitumor effect on the tumor growth inhibition ratio and on the survival period when compared to drug solutions alone. The antitumor efficacy of 5-FU-loaded microspheres was studied in tumor-bearing rats after injection of C6 malignant glioma cells in the brain, and this study showed a significant decrease in the mortality of rats treated with 5-FU-loaded microspheres when compared with the group injected with 5-FU solution.35 The therapy effect of 5-FU-HAGS were the same as the therapy effect when the tumor remission was carried out and bleeding stopped with drug chemotherapy. The 5-FU-HAGS had sustained-release of 5-FU and the hemostatic absorbable gelatin sponge also stopped bleeding. The study showed a decrease in tumor recurrence after resection with the use of 5-FU-HAGS when compared to gelatin sponge alone (Figure 6).

Figure 6.

Figure 6

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The effect of tumor recurrence after resection with the use of 5-fluorouracil gelatin sponge and gelatin sponge alone.

Abbreviation: 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil.

Conclusion

5-FU-HAGS was developed for sustained-release of 5-FU, local tumor targeting, and to stop bleeding. 5-FU-HAGS were manufactured with biocompatible and biodegradable PLGA and gelatin sponge materials. According to our experimental data, sustained-release of 5-FU from the 5-FU-HAGS occurred for approximately 20 days in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the antitumor effects were also studied in tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. These antitumor effects were significantly enhanced by implanting 5-FU-HAGS in mice rather than by injecting mice with 5-FU in aqueous solution. Local administration of 5-FU-HAGS improved the drug concentration accumulation in tumor tissues; therefore, 5-FU-HAGS may enhance antitumor effects in tumors and decrease drug toxicity in normal tissues. As a result, implantable 5-FU-HAGS delivery systems may be used to stop bleeding and as a good local therapy method for tumor targeting of chemotherapy agents after tumor resection for solid tumors.

Acknowledgment

We appreciate the generous help of the Instrumental Analysis Centre of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Footnotes

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest in this work.

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