| 摘要 |
A brachytherapy seed that includes an imaging marker and/or a therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic agent such as a drug in a polymeric carrier that can be delivered to a subject upon implantation into the subject through the bore of a brachytherapy implantation needle has been developed. Because the brachytherapy seeds can be sized and shaped to fit through the bore of a brachytherapy implantation needle, they are suitable for use with brachytherapy seed implantation instruments. A drug or other therapeutically active substance or diagnostic can be included in the seed in addition to, or as an alternative to, a radioisotope. The rate of release in the implantation site can be controlled by controlling the rate of degradation and/or release at the implantation site. In the preferred embodiment, the seeds also contain a radioopaque material or other means for external imaging. Like conventional radioactive brachytherapy seeds, the seeds can be precisely implanted in many different target tissues without the need for invasive surgery. Moreover, similar to the radiation emitted from conventional brachytherapy seeds, the therapeutically active substance included within a seed can be delivered in a controlled fashion over a relatively long period of time (e.g., weeks, months, or longer periods). |
