Biotech companies are increasingly using microsphere drug delivery technology to expand advanced therapies beyond traditional cancer treatments. In oncology, microspheres (e.g. drug-eluting beads) have been used to localise chemotherapy and reduce side effects. Now, the focus is shifting to new disease areas – such as cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders – where microspheres can enable targeted, controlled delivery of potent biologics like antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and more.
Biodegradable Polymer Microspheres
By encapsulating drugs in biodegradable polymer microspheres (often PLGA-based), developers can achieve sustained release of therapeutics over weeks or months. This controlled delivery not only maintains effective drug levels but also confines the treatment to diseased tissues, minimising systemic exposure and toxicity. The result is a promising strategy to apply the precision of oncology to other illnesses in a safe and effective way.
What makes this shift particularly exciting is that microsphere technology is not only migrating into new disease areas but also evolving in its design. Developers are exploring next-generation microspheres that combine therapeutic action with diagnostic visibility, or that are optimised for controlled release in delicate tissues such as the heart or joints. These advances illustrate that going “beyond oncology” means both broadening the scope of treatable conditions and rethinking the engineering of microspheres themselves.
Theranostic Microspheres for Real-Time Monitoring
Beyond expanding indications, biotech innovators have begun combining therapy and diagnostics in the same microsphere – a cutting-edge concept known as theranostics. Theranostic microspheres are multi-functional: they carry a therapeutic payload (e.g. an anti-inflammatory or chemotherapeutic drug) and an imaging agent or tracer. This allows clinicians to monitor treatment in real time via medical imaging while the therapy is delivered.
For example, theranostic microspheres might contain superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (as MRI contrast) embedded alongside the drug. Researchers have already demonstrated MRI-visible, drug-eluting microspheres for liver tumor therapy. The particles were loaded with a chemotherapy drug plus iron-oxide clusters, allowing them to be tracked by MRI during arterial infusion. The ability to see where and how a treatment is dispersing enables doctors to adjust dosing or catheter placement on-the-fly, improving precision.
Now, apply the same idea beyond cancer: theranostic microsphere systems could target diseased cardiac or inflammatory tissue and simultaneously report back via imaging. A microsphere formulated for atherosclerosis might include a fluorescent or PET-visible component along with an anti-atherosclerotic drug. Upon administration, the plaque-targeted microspheres would highlight plaque locations on imaging and deliver therapy to those sites. This dual action means clinicians could non-invasively monitor plaque regression or drug uptake over time, refining the treatment plan as needed.
Engineering Challenges and Innovations in Microsphere Delivery
Delivering sophisticated microsphere-based therapies for cardiovascular and autoimmune conditions requires solving significant formulation and manufacturing hurdles. Microspheres—especially those encapsulating biologics, imaging agents, or dual payloads—are notoriously difficult to manufacture reproducibly at scale. The key technical challenges include:
- Controlling particle size distribution and drug release kinetics
- Maintaining sterility for parenteral-grade products
- Preventing aggregation or degradation during post-synthesis handling
To meet these demands, biotech firms are increasingly turning to specialised microsphere formulation technologies that support aseptic, scalable processing. Powder Systems Ltd (PSL) offers one such solution: the MicroSphere Refiner (MSR™). Designed to streamline critical downstream steps—such as filtering, washing, and drying—under closed, sterile conditions, the MSR™ supports high-containment environments where sterility and product integrity are non-negotiable.
With innovations like real-time PAT monitoring and configurable wash/dry cycles, technologies like the MSR™ are helping developers meet stringent regulatory expectations. As microsphere therapies expand into non-oncology indications that often require sustained, site-specific drug release, these processing tools play a pivotal role in turning lab-scale breakthroughs into reliable, GMP-compliant drug products.
Interested in Microsphere Development?
Microsphere delivery systems are enabling biotech companies to push beyond oncology, applying targeted and controlled-release therapies to new frontiers in medicine. From localised treatment of heart disease and arthritis to theranostic platforms that marry treatment with imaging, microspheres are proving to be a versatile tool in the pharmaceutical arsenal. There is still work to be done – refining targeting ligands, perfecting release kinetics, and scaling up production – but the progress to date is highly encouraging. With continued innovation in both the drug design (e.g. novel ADC payloads and imaging combos) and the engineering process (robust microsphere fabrication techniques), we can expect to see microsphere-based therapies making impactful inroads into cardiovascular, inflammatory, and other diseases.
