A Microfluidic Platform for Cavitation-Enhanced Drug Delivery.
Giulia Grisanti1,2, Davide Caprini2, Giorgia Sinibaldi1
1Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00186 Roma, Italy.
Micromachines
|July 2, 2021
Summary
This study demonstrates that microbubble-enhanced ultrasound cavitation significantly increases endothelial permeability in a microfluidic blood vessel model. Importantly, tissue integrity fully recovers within 45 minutes post-insonation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Acoustic Cavitation
Background:
- Microfluidic systems offer advanced models for studying physiological processes.
- Endothelial permeability is crucial for drug delivery and vascular function.
- Ultrasound-mediated microbubble cavitation is a promising technique for therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the increase in endothelial permeability induced by microbubble-enhanced ultrasound cavitation.
- To develop and validate a microfluidic system for studying cavitation effects on endothelial cells.
- To assess the reversibility of cavitation-induced changes in endothelial tissue.
Main Methods:
- Culturing endothelial cells in a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device under physiological shear stress.
- Integrating optical and acoustic setups using a 3D-printed insonation chamber for ultrasound exposure.
- Quantifying cavitation-induced interendothelial gap opening using custom image analysis software.
Main Results:
- Microbubble-enhanced ultrasound significantly increased endothelial permeability.
- Cavitation-induced gaps in endothelial layers were quantitatively analyzed.
- Complete recovery of endothelial tissue integrity was observed within 45 minutes after sonication.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidic platform enables quantitative characterization of ultrasound cavitation effects.
- This method provides insights into enhancing drug delivery through transiently increased endothelial permeability.
- The findings support the potential clinical application of ultrasound-mediated cavitation for therapeutic purposes.
