Augmentation of targeted delivery with pulsed high intensity focused ultrasound

This paper reviews the enhanced delivery of genes, drugs and therapeutics using ultrasound. It begins with a general overview of the field and the various techniques associated with it, including sonophoresis, hyperthermia (with ultrasound), sonoporation, and microbubble assisted transvascular and targeted delivery. Particular attention is then paid to pulsed high intensity focused ultrasound drug delivery without the use of ultrasound contrast agents. Feasibility and mechanistic studies of this technique are described in some detail. Conclusions are then drawn regarding possible mechanisms of this treatment, and to contrast with the better known treatments relying on injection of ultrasound contrast agents.