Drug-loaded microbead compositions, embolization compositions and associated methods

The drug-loaded microbead composition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein individual microbeads of the drug loaded microbead composition comprise, based on the total weight of the individual microbeads:

• from about 30% by weight to about 70% by weight water-swellable polymer material;
• from about 1% by weight to about 25% by weight therapeutic agent;
• from about 1% by weight to about 40% by weight carrier;
• and
• less than 1% by weight water.

A method for preparing a drug-loaded microbead composition, the method comprising:

• dissolving a carrier and a therapeutic agent in an aqueous solvent to form an initial mixture, the initial mixture comprising a complex of the carrier and the therapeutic agent;
• combining the initial mixture with a first solvent composition in which the therapeutic agent is less soluble than in the aqueous solvent to form a second mixture;
• stirring the second mixture rapidly to form particles of the complex in the second mixture;
• combining the particles of the complex with a hydrogel of a water-swellable polymer material to form a hydrogel mixture;
• combining the hydrogel mixture with a second solvent composition to form a synthesis mixture;
• stirring the synthesis mixture rapidly to form drug-loaded microbeads in the synthesis mixture;
• recovering the drug-loaded microbeads from the synthesis mixture;
• and
• removing water from the drug-loaded microbeads to form a drug-loaded microbead composition having a water content of less than 1% by weight, based on the total weight of the drug-loaded microbeads in the drug-loaded microbead composition.

A method for preparing a drug-loaded microbead composition, the method comprising:

• dissolving a carrier and a therapeutic agent in an aqueous solvent to form an initial mixture, the initial mixture comprising a complex of the carrier and the therapeutic agent;
• combining the initial mixture with a hydrogel solution of a water-swellable polymer material to form a hydrogel mixture;
• combining the hydrogel mixture with a solvent composition to form a synthesis mixture;
• stirring the synthesis mixture rapidly to form drug-loaded microbeads in the synthesis mixture;
• recovering the drug-loaded microbeads from the synthesis mixture;
• and
• drying the drug-loaded microbeads to form a drug-loaded microbead composition having a water content of less than 1% by weight, based on the total weight of the drug-loaded microbeads in the drug-loaded microbead composition.