Advanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Therapy (Sep 2021)

Targeted Delivery of Therapeutic Gas by Microbubbles

  • Lingling Xu, MM, Yihan Chen, MM, Qiaofeng Jin, PhD, Li Zhang, MD, Wenpei Fu, BS, Shan Lin, MM, Ling Lin, BS, Rui Wang, BS, Dandan Chen, MM, Zhengyang Han, MM, Mingxing Xie, MD, Yali Yang, MD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.37015/AUDT.2021.200059
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5, no. 3
pp. 173 – 182

Abstract

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Gas therapy is a new therapeutic method that has been developed in recent years and shows great clinical prospects for the treatment of tumours and cardiovascular, nerve, and immune system diseases. Therapeutic gases, including oxygen, hydrogen, nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide, xenon, and other bioactive gases are involved in modulating cell signaling pathways and have important physiological functions with substantial therapeutic potential. However, their precise delivery remains a major challenge. Recently, researchers began to use ultrasound to trigger microbubbles that have encapsulated these gases for intravenous administration. This not only enhances the contrast of ultrasound imaging, but also precisely releases gases in the targeted area using ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction. This article reviews the latest advances in the use of microbubbles to load therapeutic gases for the treatment of diseases.

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