Novel drug delivery system using autologous fibrin glue--release properties of anti-cancer drugs.

To clarify the release properties of anti-cancer drugs from fibrin glue, a study was performed using several anti-cancer drugs with remarkably different physical properties. Concentrated fibrinogen, fibronectin, and coagulation factor XIII were prepared from healthy human plasma according to the cryoprecipitate method. Fibrin glue containing anti-cancer drugs was prepared as follows; the cryoprecipitate was mixed with each anti-cancer drug and aprotinin, then thrombin was added. These glues were incubated in PBS containing plasminogen and urokinase at 37 degrees C for seven days, and the medium was then sampled several times after centrifugation. The drug concentration in each sample was measured using HPLC. Fibrin glue without aprotinin was quickly hemolyzed and disappeared after 2--4 h. That with aprotinin was only slightly hemolyzed and more than half remained after 7 days. Mitomycin C and fluorouracil were quickly released from the glue regardless of the presence or absence of aprotinin. However, enocitabine was gradually released from glue with aprotinin although quickly released from that without. The rate of release of each drug from the glue with aprotinin correlated well with its hydrophobicity. Thus, to establish a sustained release system using fibrin glue, one should use the more lipophilic anti-cancer drugs and a fibrinolytic enzyme inhibitor.