Cytosolic protein delivery using ultrasound-guided vaporization of perfluorocarbon nano-droplets

Ultrasound-guided protein delivery is promising for site-specific control of cellular functions in the deep interior of the body in a noninvasive manner. Herein, we propose a method for cytosolic protein delivery based on ultrasound-guided intracellular vaporization of perfluorocarbon nano-droplets. The nano-droplets were conjugated with cargo proteins through a bio-reductively cleavable linker and introduced into living cells via antibody-mediated binding to a cell-surface receptor, which gets internalized through endocytosis. After the cells were exposed to ultrasound for endosomal escape of proteins, the ultrasound-responsive cytosolic release of a cargo enzyme was confirmed by visualizing the hydrolysis of the fluorogenic substrate using confocal microscopy. Moreover, a significant decrease in cell viability was achieved via the release of a cytotoxic protein in response to ultrasound treatment. The results of this study provide the proof of a principle that protein-conjugated nano-droplets can be used as carriers in ultrasound-guided cytosolic delivery of proteins.