Scientific Research
ABK Biomedical Scientific Research
ABK Biomedical is committed to improving every aspect of Y90 radioembolization treatment and patient follow-up.
We are dedicated to improving patient outcomes; from engineering microsphere technology and delivery systems for optimal imaging and tumor targeting to ensuring physicians know the cutting-edge advantages of Eye90 microspheres Precision Dosimetry™.
Eye90 microspheres Precision Dosimetry™
Precision Dosimetry involves a CT-based approach to calculating the post-treatment absorbed dose. The benefits of Precision Dosimetry include significantly enhanced spatial resolution of the dose distribution and a more accurate estimation of dose heterogeneity.
Current Y90 microsphere technology lacks sufficient radiopacity for CT-based dosimetry to be feasible.
Eye90 microspheres® are engineered to be imageable, permitting Precision Dosimetry with CT-based imaging to be utilized. The clinical potential of Eye90 microspheres Precision Dosimetry™ has been demonstrated in a pre-clinical model and published in a well-respected peer-reviewed journal.

Eye90 microspheres Precision Dosimetry™ in a rabbit model. a–c Axial, sagittal, and coronal views of CT-based dose distribution. d–f Axial, sagittal, and coronal views of traditional PET-based dose distribution showing inferior resolution.
Comparison of Glass Y90 Administration Systems in an in vitro model published in JVIR
ABK Biomedical and affiliated researchers at North Carolina State University recently published new data on the in vitro distribution and penetration of glass microspheres under different administration methods.
Specifically, an in vitro microvascular tumor model, replicating the human HCC condition, was developed and used to compare glass microsphere administration methods during Y90 procedures.
Eye90 microspheres® Dual Syringe administration was compared to standard glass microsphere Bolus Delivery administration. The same glass microspheres were used to test both administration approaches.
The investigators concluded that Eye90 microspheres administration technology achieved deeper microspheres penetration and greater deposition uniformity within the in vitro tumor microvasculature.

A schematic of the dual-syringe and bolus delivery administration methods.
BD = bolus delivery; DS = dual-syringe.
Scientific Presentations
2022 Presentations
Precision Dosimetry in Yttrium-90 Radioembolization through CT Imaging of Radiopaque Microspheres in a Rabbit Liver Model
Dr. E. Courtney Henry, MD Anderson Cancer Center
American Association of Physicists in Medicine Annual Meeting 2022
“Best in Physics”
- Potential benefits of Eye90 microspheres Precision Dosimetry™ include reduced partial volume effects and respiratory motion artifacts, improved visualization of dose distribution, and accurate quantification of dose heterogeneity.
- Post-treatment CT imaging of imageable microspheres provides the means to perform precision dosimetry and extract more accurate absorbed dose metrics.
- The strong positive correlation between imageable microspheres and CT-based dosimetry may help physicians with dose-response relationships and improve future patient outcomes.
What’s new in microspheres: The next generation for radioembolization
Robert J. Abraham MD, Dalhousie University
Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Meeting 2022
- Eye90 microspheres® are in clinical development and are the only imageable Y90 microspheres imageable using X-ray-based imaging technologies.
- CT-based dosimetry depicts dose heterogeneity with increased accuracy relative to PET-based dosimetry.
- This approach to dosimetry could provide clinicians with an opportunity to enhance their understanding of the dose-response relationship and improve patient outcomes.
- The First-in-Human study with Eye90 microspheres® for mCRC and HCC was initiated November 2021 in Auckland, NZ.
Novel Radiopaque Y-90 Glass Microspheres (Eye90 microspheres) for Canine Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Correlation of Microsphere Radiopacity with TOF PET Radioactivity and mRECIST Tumor Response Determination
Robert J. Abraham MD, Dalhousie University
Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Meeting 2022
- Eye90 microspheres® is being evaluated in a First-in-Dog HCC Study in partnership with The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Here, we describe a case study that evaluated tumor response after Eye90 microspheres administration in a dog patient with HCC.
- Significant anti-tumor response was noted after six weeks, and the dog underwent a successful left lobectomy.
- This case shows Eye90 microspheres treatment resulted in a beneficial tumor response, the ability to assess tumor targeting and coverage on CT, and inherent radiopacity correlated well with PET-based radioactivity and tissue histology.
Novel Hepatic Tumor Microvascular Model for Evaluating the Deposition Characteristics of Y-90 Microspheres
Robert J. Abraham MD, Dalhousie University
Global Embolization Symposium & Technologies Annual Meeting 2022
- It is a known challenge to evaluate Y90 tumor microspheres deposition in vivo.
- ABK Biomedical developed a standardized in vitro model, in partnership with NC State University, that captures hepatic vascular anatomy and matches physiologic pressures and flow rates.
- In this model, the tumor is represented by a branched vascular structure which simulates HCC tumors down to the arteriole level (18µm).
- Researchers compared in vitro microsphere distribution between the ABK dual-syringe delivery system (DS) and the typical glass Y90 bolus delivery system (BD).
- The ABK DS system delivered a greater number of glass microspheres penetrating distally, and a more uniform distribution compared to BD.
2021 Presentations
Read the abstract!
CT-based Dosimetry in Yttrium-90 Radioembolization Performed in a Rabbit Liver Model
Dr. E. Courtney Henry, Dalhousie University
Global Embolization Symposium & Technologies Annual Meeting 2021
- The poor spatial resolution encountered with Y90 PET and SPECT dosimetry underestimates the true dose heterogeneity following radioembolization.
- Improved estimates of distribution can be obtained with higher resolution dosimetry to accurately quantify dose-response and identify areas at risk of recurrence.
- The steep dose gradients observed with CT-based dosimetry are highly correlated with radioembolized vasculature because it is directly derived from the microspheres implanted distribution.
- The strong positive correlation between imageable microspheres and CT-based dosimetry may help physicians with dose-response relationships and improve future patient outcomes.
Read the abstract!
Novel Hepatic Tumor Microvascular Model for Evaluating the Microembolic Characteristics of Y-90 Microspheres
Dr. Sam Miller, North Carolina State University
Global Embolization Symposium & Technologies Annual Meeting 2021
“Best at GEST” Winner
- Attributes of Y90 distribution in tumors are difficult to observe through in vivo models. This is the first published in vitro model simulating HCC tumors down to the arteriole level (18µm).
- This study compared in vitro microsphere distribution between the ABK dual-syringe delivery system (DS) and a typical glass Y90 bolus delivery system (BD).
- The use of the ABK DS system resulted in a greater number of microspheres penetrating distally compared to BD.
- A more uniform distribution of microspheres was also observed with ABK DS vs BD.
- This study demonstrated that the mode of microsphere delivery affects penetration and uniformity of deposition and may bring a new perspective to Y90 technology development.
Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications
Comparison of Bolus Versus Dual-Syringe Administration Systems on Glass Yttrium-90 Microsphere Deposition in an In Vitro Microvascular Hepatic Tumor Model
Miller et al. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2023; 34:11–20
Click to download the article
Quantification of the inherent radiopacity of glass microspheres for precision dosimetry in yttrium-90 radioembolization.
Henry et al 2019 Biomed. Phys. Eng. Express 5 055011
Click to read this abstract
Precision dosimetry in yttrium‑90 radioembolization through CT imaging of radiopaque microspheres in a rabbit liver model
Henry et al. EJNMMI Physics (2022) 9:21
Click to download the article
Post-administration dosimetry in yttrium-90 radioembolization through micro-CT imaging of radiopaque microspheres in a porcine renal model
Henry et al 2021 Phys. Med. Biol. 66 095011
Click to read this abstract
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ABK Biomedical Inc. provides and continues to provide accurate information on its website. However, ABK Biomedical Inc. assumes no responsibility for the accuracy and/or completeness, express or implied, as to the information contained or omitted and/or the products described. Furthermore, ABK Biomedical Inc. may change the products mentioned, and their stage in development, at any time without notice. ABK Biomedical Inc. is a clinical-stage company engaged in the research and development of new medical devices. Eye90 microspheres® is considered an investigational product and is NOT FDA-approved for use.
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