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Updated: May 11, 2026
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Induction of Adhesion-dependent Signals Using Low-intensity Ultrasound
Published on: May 8, 2012
Low intensity ultrasound perturbs cytoskeleton dynamics
Natalya Mizrahi1, Enhua H Zhou, Guillaume Lenormand
1Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel ; Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Soft Matter
|May 7, 2013
Summary
Low intensity therapeutic ultrasound causes prompt cell fluidization and accelerates remodeling dynamics. This suggests cytoskeletal fluidization is a key mechanism behind ultrasound
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Therapeutic ultrasound is a common clinical tool.
- The precise mechanism of action for therapeutic ultrasound is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physical and dynamic changes in cells exposed to low intensity ultrasound.
- To propose a mechanism for the therapeutic effects of ultrasound based on observed cellular changes.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of cells to low intensity ultrasound at ultrasonic frequencies (10^6 Hz).
- Analysis of cellular physical changes, specifically fluidization and remodeling dynamics.
- Comparison of cellular responses to different strain magnitudes and frequencies.
Main Results:
- Low intensity ultrasound induced prompt cell fluidization.
- Ultrasound exposure dramatically accelerated cellular remodeling dynamics.
- Observed cellular changes were analogous to those seen in soft inert materials undergoing rejuvenation or aging.
- The physical changes were induced by very small strains (10^-5) at high frequencies.
Conclusions:
- Cytoskeletal fluidization is a primary effect of low intensity therapeutic ultrasound.
- Accelerated cytoskeletal remodeling contributes to the beneficial effects of therapeutic ultrasound.
- The findings provide a mechanistic explanation for therapeutic ultrasound's clinical applications.
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