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08:52
Intravital Microscopy of Tumor-associated Vasculature Using Advanced Dorsal Skinfold Window Chambers on Transgenic Fluorescent Mice
Published on: January 19, 2018
Cavitation-enhanced extravasation for drug delivery
Costas D Arvanitis1, Miriam Bazan-Peregrino, Bassel Rifai
1Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK. cda@bwh.Harvard.edu
Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology
|October 4, 2011
Summary
Ultrasound-induced cavitation enhances drug delivery by increasing macromolecular compound extravasation. This method shows potential for improving anticancer agent delivery to tumors.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Acoustics
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Ultrasound-induced cavitation is a promising method for targeted drug delivery.
- Optimizing cavitation parameters is crucial for enhancing macromolecular extravasation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess and optimize ultrasound-induced cavitation for enhanced drug extravasation.
- To investigate the role of cavitation emissions in facilitating macromolecular transport.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a tissue-mimicking phantom with embedded tumor cells and a vessel-like channel.
- Employed a 500 kHz therapeutic ultrasound transducer and passive cavitation detection.
- Analyzed acoustic emissions to optimize exposure conditions and contrast agent concentrations.
Main Results:
- Different cavitation emissions (ultraharmonic vs. broadband) were linked to distinct vessel disruptions.
- Broadband emissions significantly increased adenovirus (Ad-Luc) bioavailability by 60-fold.
- No cell death was observed under investigated insonation conditions without therapeutic agents.
Conclusions:
- Acoustic cavitation can effectively enhance the extravasation of macromolecular compounds.
- This approach holds potential for improving anticancer agent delivery to hypoxic and poorly vascularized tumor regions.
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