Sonosensitive Cavitation Nuclei—A Customisable Platform Technology for Enhanced Therapeutic Delivery

Brian Lyons; Joel P. R. Balkaran; Darcy Dunn-Lawless; Veronica Lucian; Sara B. Keller; Colm S. O’Reilly; Luna Hu; Jeffrey Rubasingham; Malavika Nair; Robert Carlisle; Eleanor Stride; Michael Gray; Constantin Coussios

doi:10.3390/molecules28237733

Molecules (Nov 2023)

Sonosensitive Cavitation Nuclei—A Customisable Platform Technology for Enhanced Therapeutic Delivery

Brian Lyons,
Joel P. R. Balkaran,
Darcy Dunn-Lawless,
Veronica Lucian,
Sara B. Keller,
Colm S. O’Reilly,
Luna Hu,
Jeffrey Rubasingham,
Malavika Nair,
Robert Carlisle,
Eleanor Stride,
Michael Gray,
Constantin Coussios

Affiliations

Brian Lyons: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Joel P. R. Balkaran: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Darcy Dunn-Lawless: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Veronica Lucian: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Sara B. Keller: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Colm S. O’Reilly: Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Luna Hu: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Jeffrey Rubasingham: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Malavika Nair: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Robert Carlisle: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Eleanor Stride: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Michael Gray: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
Constantin Coussios: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28237733
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 28, no. 23
p. 7733

Abstract

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Ultrasound-mediated cavitation shows great promise for improving targeted drug delivery across a range of clinical applications. Cavitation nuclei—sound-sensitive constructs that enhance cavitation activity at lower pressures—have become a powerful adjuvant to ultrasound-based treatments, and more recently emerged as a drug delivery vehicle in their own right. The unique combination of physical, biological, and chemical effects that occur around these structures, as well as their varied compositions and morphologies, make cavitation nuclei an attractive platform for creating delivery systems tuned to particular therapeutics. In this review, we describe the structure and function of cavitation nuclei, approaches to their functionalization and customization, various clinical applications, progress toward real-world translation, and future directions for the field.

Published in Molecules

ISSN: 1420-3049 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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