Bubble-Based Drug Delivery Systems: Next-Generation Diagnosis to Therapy

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology in Medicine
• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Therapeutic Drug Delivery

Background:

• Current medical imaging and drug administration methods have limitations and side effects.
• Microbubbles (MBs) are utilized in ultrasound (US) imaging for their vessel-retention properties.
• Nanobubbles (NBs) show potential for chronic and acute therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements and applications of microbubbles and nanobubbles (MNBs).
• To evaluate publications from 2016-2022 on MNBs in medicine.
• To highlight the potential of MNBs in radiology, medicine, and surgery.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of publications from 2016 to 2022.
• Analysis of current uses and innovations of microbubbles and nanobubbles (MNBs).
• Focus on clinical trials and diverse medical applications.

Main Results:

• Microbubbles (MBs) are established for ultrasound imaging.
• Nanobubbles (NBs) demonstrate therapeutic potential in oncology, osteoporosis, and infectious diseases.
• Ongoing clinical trials indicate expanding applications for MNBs.

Conclusions:

• Microbubbles and nanobubbles (MNBs) represent a significant advancement in medical diagnostics and therapeutics.
• MNBs offer a promising alternative to conventional treatments with potentially fewer side effects.
• The broad applicability of MNBs across various medical disciplines suggests a transformative impact.