The application of microbubbles for targeted drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Microbubbles are gaining interest as drug delivery vehicles.
• Their small size allows for transvascular passage.
• They can be functionalized for targeted adhesion and acoustically driven for controlled release.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of microbubble biofluid mechanics.
• To review recent developments in microbubble-based targeted drug delivery.
• To briefly describe advances in non-bubble microparticle drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of microbubble biofluid mechanics.
• Review of recent studies on microbubble drug delivery applications.
• Brief overview of non-bubble microparticle advancements.

Main Results:

• Microbubbles offer advantages for localized drug delivery, including transvascular passage and targeted adhesion.
• Acoustic manipulation facilitates ultrasound detection, bioeffects, and controlled cargo release.
• Recent developments show promise in enhancing targeted drug delivery efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Microbubbles are versatile platforms for targeted drug delivery.
• Their unique properties enable precise control over drug release.
• Further research in microbubble biofluid mechanics and applications is warranted.