Fig. 4: Embolization effectiveness of Janus particle-engineered structural lipiodol droplets in the kidneys of rabbits.

a Digitally subtracted angiography (DSA) of the right kidney before and after embolization on day 0 and 14 in different treatment groups. After 14 days post-embolization, the DSA results indicated that the Janus particle-engineered structural lipiodol droplets resulted in more efficient embolization (especially in the renal cortex), whereas the lipiodol-based emulsion group exhibited evident recanalization in most of the blood vessels. Additionally, the clinical 8spheres® beads also encountered recanalization in the partial arteries near the renal hilum. b CT images and three-dimensional virtual reality (3D VR) of the embolized right kidney. c CT images of the comparison of a normal left kidney and an embolized right kidney. On day 14 post-embolization, the Janus particle-engineered structural lipiodol droplets remained visible in the renal cortex. However, in the lipiodol-based emulsion group, most of lipiodol droplets had been metabolized, leading to a low CT intensity after 14 days post-embolization. d Statistics of the volume of the left kidney (Control) and embolized right kidney in different groups after 14 days post-embolization by CT. The reduction rates were calculated by AW VolumeShare 4.7 (reformat, volume, GE Healthcare) software. Data are presented as mean values ± SD (n = 3 biologically independent experiments). Significant differences were evaluated by two-tailed unpaired t test. ***p < 0.001 and ns (p = 0.16). e Photograph images of excised kidneys after 14 days post-embolization. Compared to the left kidney (Control), the embolized right kidney appeared milky white, and its volume was significantly reduced in the Janus particle-engineered structural lipiodol droplet group and 8spheres® bead group. f CT images of other organs after 14 days post-embolization. The results suggested no evidence of non-target embolization in the Janus particle-engineered structural lipiodol droplet group. Experiments were performed three times (a–f), with similar results.