Interaction between cavitation microbubble and cell: A simulation of sonoporation using boundary element method...

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Acoustic Medicine

Background:

• Sonoporation is a key technique for gene delivery and causes bio-effects like hemolysis.
• Understanding the mechanism of microbubble-cell interaction is crucial for optimizing sonoporation.
• Existing models require further development to capture detailed cell membrane dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a 2D boundary element method (BEM) model for investigating microbubble-cell interactions.
• To analyze the morphological and mechanical characteristics of cell membranes during sonoporation.
• To provide insights for enhancing the safety and efficiency of sonoporation techniques.

Main Methods:

• A two-dimensional boundary element method (BEM) model was employed.
• The model simulated microbubble-cell interactions, focusing on the cell membrane's close-to-bubble point (CP).
• Time evolution analysis of sonoporation was performed, extracting parameters like bubble volume, cell area expansion, jet velocity, and CP displacement.

Main Results:

• The model successfully simulated microbubble-cell interactions and sonoporation dynamics.
• Parametric studies revealed the influence of ultrasound parameters (frequency, pressure) and geometry (bubble-cell distance, bubble radius).
• Detailed information on cell membrane deformation and bubble behavior was extracted for analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed 2D BEM model is a powerful tool for understanding bubble-cell interactions.
• The findings can guide the optimization of sonoporation strategies for improved safety and efficiency.
• This research supports the advancement of sonoporation in biological and clinical applications.