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Multi-timescale Microscopy Methods for the Characterization of Fluorescently-labeled Microbubbles for Ultrasound-Triggered Drug Release
Published on: June 12, 2021
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Acoustic trapping of microbubbles in complex environments and controlled payload release
Diego Baresch1,2, Valeria Garbin3,4
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; diego.baresch@u-bordeaux.fr.
Summary
Acoustic tweezers use sound waves to precisely control microbubbles in 3D, enabling targeted drug delivery through opaque materials. This contactless manipulation technique offers new possibilities for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Acoustic manipulation
- Biomedical engineering
- Microparticle trapping
Background:
- Acoustic trapping offers advantages over optical trapping for biomedical applications due to sound's ability to penetrate opaque media.
- The full potential of acoustic trapping in medicine remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the use of single-beam acoustical tweezers for trapping and manipulating microbubbles.
- To explore the potential of acoustic manipulation for biomedical applications, including drug delivery.
Main Methods:
- Utilized single-beam acoustical tweezers with a vortex beam to trap microbubbles.
- Experimentally validated trapping forces and mapped bubble echoes against a theoretical model.
- Tested trap stability in centimeter-thick, bio-mimicking elastic materials.
Main Results:
- Successfully trapped microbubbles using the vanishing pressure region of a vortex beam, enabling 3D positioning.
- Demonstrated stable trapping through thick, opaque materials.
- Showcased simultaneous trapping and acoustic-triggered release of nanoparticles from microbubbles.
Conclusions:
- Acoustic tweezers can precisely position and actuate microbubbles for controlled manipulation.
- This technology enables targeted drug delivery to difficult-to-reach locations, with potential for in vivo applications.
- Acoustic manipulation of microbubbles offers a promising, non-invasive tool for advanced biomedical therapies.
