The application of nanometric activated carbon particles in the intralymphatic chemotherapy as a drug carrier

Purpose To investigate the effects of adriamycin adsorbed by nanometric activated carbon suspension on lymphatic metastasis of tumor. Methods Walker 256 sarcocarcinoma cells were inoculated in the soles of right hind limb to establish lymphatic metastasis model.Adriamycin adsorbed by activated carbon suspension,adriamycin solution or saline was injected respectively around the tumor every other day for 5 times.The lymph nodes in popliteal fossa were dissected to measured their weight,necrosis rate and apoptosis rate of tumor cells in lymph nodes. Results Weight of popliteal fossa lymph nodes in group of adriamycin adsorbed by activated carbon suspension was notably lighter than those of the other two groups.Tumor cellular necrosis rate and apoptosis rate in lymph nodes were significantly higher than those of the other two groups.The skin was intact at the injection site in the group of adriamycin adsorbed by activated carbon suspension,whereas there was skin erosion at the injection site in all rats of adriamycin solution group. Conclusions Activated carbon can carry chemotherapeutic agents into lymphatic system as a drug carrier.It can kill the cancer cells within lymph nodes with lower systemic toxicity.