Cilia‐Structured Lipiodol Droplets Enable Long‐Term Transarterial Embolization Therapy by Nano‐Interlocking Adhesion

Abstract

ABSTRACT Transarterial embolization (TAE) offers an effective and minimally invasive therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most lethal malignancies globally, but being limited by short‐term embolization failure for example recanalization due to weak interfacial adhesion. Herein, we report cilia‐structured lipiodol (CS‐lipiodol) droplets by self‐assembling dual‐asymmetric microparticles with hydrophilic cilia‐structured hemispheres and hydrophobic plain hemispheres at the lipiodol–water interface, enabling long‐term TAE therapy by the cilia‐mediated nano‐interlocking effect. CS‐lipiodol droplets exhibit strong interfacial adhesion and viscoelastic deformability through the nano‐interlocking effect and the Pickering‐like architecture, allowing tight and efficient occlusion across multiple in vitro embolization models. The enhanced interfacial adhesion to vascular cells and adjacent droplets confers long‐term vascular occlusion and approximately three‐fold higher in vivo embolization rates than commercial embolic agents. In the orthotopic rabbit HCC model, purely physical occlusion with CS‐lipiodol droplets induced superior tumor volume reduction. Our study provides a healthcare material platform for long‐term and vascular‐adaptive TAE therapy.