Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Local drug and gene delivery through microbubbles.

E C Unger1, E Hersh, M Vannan

  • 1Department of Radiology, Arizona Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, 85724-5067, USA.

Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases
|September 5, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Sexual antagonism in the pistil varies among populations of a hermaphroditic mixed-mating plant.

Journal of evolutionary biology·2015
Same author

Clinical aspects of intratumoral gene therapy.

Current opinion in molecular therapeutics·2001
Same author

Ultraharmonic myocardial contrast imaging: in vivo experimental and clinical data from a novel technique.

Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography·2001
Same author

Real-time myocardial blood flow imaging in normal human beings with the use of myocardial contrast echocardiography.

Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography·2001
Same author

Gene delivery using ultrasound contrast agents.

Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.)·2001
Same author

Microbubble contrast agents: a new era in ultrasound.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2001
Same journal

Multimodality imaging of vulnerable plaque: Are we there yet? A multifaceted perspective.

Progress in cardiovascular diseases·2026
Same journal

Beyond LDL-C: Triangulating residual risk via lipoprotein(a), remnant cholesterol, and vascular inflammation.

Progress in cardiovascular diseases·2026
Same journal

COVID-19 and coronary atherosclerosis: Unmasking and accelerating?

Progress in cardiovascular diseases·2026
Same journal

Mavacamten and left ventricular dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with left bundle branch block.

Progress in cardiovascular diseases·2026
Same journal

Lessons from ATTR-CM clinical trials: Progress, persistent disparities, and emerging treatment dilemmas.

Progress in cardiovascular diseases·2026
Same journal

Circulating microRNA signatures associated with atrial remodeling in endurance athletes with PAFIYAMA syndrome: A case-control study.

Progress in cardiovascular diseases·2026
See all related articles

Ultrasound microbubbles facilitate targeted drug and gene delivery by creating cavitation, enhancing cellular uptake. This novel approach shows promise for cardiovascular gene therapy, improving myocardial vascularization and heart function.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • Ultrasound contrast agents (microbubbles) can be engineered as cavitation nuclei for therapeutic agent delivery.
  • Gene therapy holds potential for cardiovascular diseases, but effective delivery vectors are crucial.
  • Current gene delivery methods face challenges in targeting and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the use of ultrasound microbubbles as novel vectors for targeted gene delivery to the myocardium.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-mediated cavitation for enhancing therapeutic agent release and cellular uptake.
  • To assess the potential of this technology for treating cardiovascular conditions like congestive heart failure.

Main Methods:

  • Ultrasound contrast agents (microbubbles) were tailored with specific physical properties and coating materials to incorporate therapeutic genes.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Transthoracic ultrasound was focused on the heart to induce cavitation of injected gene-bearing microbubbles.
  • Gene delivery and expression levels in the targeted myocardium were quantified following ultrasound exposure.

    • Main Results:

    • Microbubble cavitation effectively released incorporated therapeutic agents locally.
    • Ultrasound-induced shockwaves from cavitation significantly improved cellular uptake of therapeutic agents.
    • High levels of transgene expression were achieved in the sonicated region of the myocardium.

    Conclusions:

    • Ultrasound contrast agents can be developed into effective gene delivery vectors for cardiovascular applications.
    • This ultrasound-mediated microbubble technology offers a promising strategy for targeted gene therapy.
    • Further research and development are warranted to translate this technology into clinical practice for improved heart function.