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Deng L, Lea-Banks H, Jones RM, O’Reilly MA, Hynynen K. Three-dimensional super resolution ultrasound imaging with a multi-frequency hemispherical phased array. Med Phys 2023; 50:7478-7497. [PMID: 37702919 PMCID: PMC10872837 DOI: 10.1002/mp.16733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High resolution imaging of the microvasculature plays an important role in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the brain. However, ultrasound pulse-echo sonography imaging the brain vasculatures has been limited to narrow acoustic windows and low frequencies due to the distortion of the skull bone, which sacrifices axial resolution since it is pulse length dependent. PURPOSE To overcome the detect limit, a large aperture 256-module sparse hemispherical transmit/receive array was used to visualize the acoustic emissions of ultrasound-vaporized lipid-coated decafluorobutane nanodroplets flowing through tube phantoms and within rabbit cerebral vasculature in vivo via passive acoustic mapping and super resolution techniques. METHODS Nanodroplets were vaporized with 55 kHz burst-mode ultrasound (burst length = 145 μs, burst repetition frequency = 9-45 Hz, peak negative acoustic pressure = 0.10-0.22 MPa), which propagates through overlying tissues well without suffering from severe distortions. The resulting emissions were received at a higher frequency (612 or 1224 kHz subarray) to improve the resulting spatial resolution during passive beamforming. Normal resolution three-dimensional images were formed using a delay, sum, and integrate beamforming algorithm, and super-resolved images were extracted via Gaussian fitting of the estimated point-spread-function to the normal resolution data. RESULTS With super resolution techniques, the mean lateral (axial) full-width-at-half-maximum image intensity was 16 ± 3 (32 ± 6) μm, and 7 ± 1 (15 ± 2) μm corresponding to ∼1/67 of the normal resolution at 612 and 1224 kHz, respectively. The mean positional uncertainties were ∼1/350 (lateral) and ∼1/180 (axial) of the receive wavelength in water. In addition, a temporal correlation between nanodroplet vaporization and the transmit waveform shape was observed, which may provide the opportunity to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio in future studies. CONCLUSIONS Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of vaporizing nanodroplets via low frequency ultrasound and simultaneously performing spatial mapping via passive beamforming at higher frequencies to improve the resulting spatial resolution of super resolution imaging techniques. This method may enable complete four-dimensional vascular mapping in organs where a hemispherical array could be positioned to surround the target, such as the brain, breast, or testicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Deng
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Harriet Lea-Banks
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Ryan M. Jones
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Meaghan A. O’Reilly
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E2, Canada
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2
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Zhang G, Liao C, Hu JR, Hu HM, Lei YM, Harput S, Ye HR. Nanodroplet-Based Super-Resolution Ultrasound Localization Microscopy. ACS Sens 2023; 8:3294-3306. [PMID: 37607403 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c00418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, super-resolution ultrasound localization microscopy (SR-ULM) has revolutionized ultrasound imaging with its capability to resolve the microvascular structures below the ultrasound diffraction limit. The introduction of this imaging technique enables the visualization, quantification, and characterization of tissue microvasculature. The early implementations of SR-ULM utilize microbubbles (MBs) that require a long image acquisition time due to the requirement of capturing sparsely isolated microbubble signals. The next-generation SR-ULM employs nanodroplets that have the potential to significantly reduce the image acquisition time without sacrificing the resolution. This review discusses various nanodroplet-based ultrasound localization microscopy techniques and their corresponding imaging mechanisms. A summary is given on the preclinical applications of SR-ULM with nanodroplets, and the challenges in the clinical translation of nanodroplet-based SR-ULM are presented while discussing the future perspectives. In conclusion, ultrasound localization microscopy is a promising microvasculature imaging technology that can provide new diagnostic and prognostic information for a wide range of pathologies, such as cancer, heart conditions, and autoimmune diseases, and enable personalized treatment monitoring at a microlevel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Zhang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430080, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm U1273, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, CNRS, Paris 75015, France
| | - Chen Liao
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430080, People's Republic of China
- Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Rui Hu
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Man Hu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Meng Lei
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430080, People's Republic of China
| | - Sevan Harput
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, London South Bank University, London SE1 0AA, U.K
| | - Hua-Rong Ye
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430080, People's Republic of China
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3
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Ting SG, Lea-Banks H, Hynynen K. Physical Characterization to Improve Scalability and Potential of Anesthetic-Loaded Nanodroplets. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2077. [PMID: 37631291 PMCID: PMC10457791 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-loaded perfluorocarbon nanodroplets (NDs) can be activated non-invasively by focused ultrasound (FUS) and allow for precise drug-delivery. Anesthetic-loaded NDs and transcranial FUS have previously achieved targeted neuromodulation. To assess the clinical potential of anesthetic-loaded NDs, in depth physical characterization and investigation of storage strategies and triggered-activation is necessary. Pentobarbital-loaded decafluorobutane nanodroplets (PBNDs) with a Definity-derived lipid shell (237 nm; 4.08 × 109 particles/mL) were fabricated and assessed. Change in droplet stability, concentration, and drug-release efficacy were tested for PBNDs frozen at -80 °C over 4 weeks. PBND diameter and the polydispersity index of thawed droplets remained consistent up to 14 days frozen. Cryo-TEM images revealed NDs begin to lose circularity at 7 days, and by 14 days, perfluorocarbon dissolution and lipid fragmentation occurred. The level of acoustic response and drug release decreases through prolonged storage. PBNDs showed no hemolytic activity at clinically relevant concentrations and conditions. At increasing sonication pressures, liquid PBNDs vaporized into gas microbubbles, and acoustic activity at the second harmonic frequency (2 f0) peaked at lower pressures than the subharmonic frequency (1/2 f0). Definity-based PBNDs have been thoroughly characterized, cryo-TEM has been shown to be suitable to image the internal structure of volatile NDs, and PBNDs can be reliably stored at -80 °C for future use up to 7 days without significant degradation, loss of acoustic response, or reduction in ultrasound-triggered drug release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siulam Ginni Ting
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada;
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Harriet Lea-Banks
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada;
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada;
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
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4
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Liu R, Xu Y, Zhang N, Qu S, Zeng W, Li R, Dai Z. Nanotechnology for Enhancing Medical Imaging. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-8984-0_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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5
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Fan CH, Ho YJ, Lin CW, Wu N, Chiang PH, Yeh CK. State-of-the-art of ultrasound-triggered drug delivery from ultrasound-responsive drug carriers. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2022; 19:997-1009. [PMID: 35930441 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2022.2110585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The development of new tools to locally and non-invasively transferring therapeutic substances at the desired site in deep living tissue has been a long sought-after goal within the drug delivery field. Among the established methods, ultrasound (US) with US-responsive carriers holds great promise and demonstrates on-demand delivery of a variety of functional substances with spatial precision of several millimeters in deep-seated tissues in animal models and humans. These properties have motivated several explorations of US with US responsive carriers as a modality for neuromodulation and the treatment of various diseases, such as stroke and cancer. AREAS COVERED This article briefly discussed three specific mechanisms that enhance in vivo drug delivery via US with US-responsive carriers: 1) permeabilizing cellular membrane, 2) increasing the permeability of vessels, and 3) promoting cellular endocytotic uptake. Besides, a series of US-responsive drug carriers are discussed, with an emphasis on the relation between structural feature and therapeutic outcome. EXPERT OPINION This article summarized current development for each of US-responsive drug carrier, focusing on the routes of enhancing delivery and applications. The mechanisms of interaction between US-responsive carriers and US energy, such as cavitation, hyperthermia, and reactive oxygen species, as well as how these interactions can improve drug delivery into target cell/tissue. It can be expected that there are serval efforts to further identification of US-responsive particles, design of novel US waveform sequence, and survey of optimal combination between US parameters and US-responsive carriers for better controlling the spatiotemporal drug release profile, stability, and safety in vivo. The authors believe these will provide novel tools for precisely designing treatment strategies and significantly benefit the clinical management of several diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Hsiang Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ju Ho
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Hua Chiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Kuang Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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6
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Lea-Banks H, Wu SK, Lee H, Hynynen K. Ultrasound-triggered oxygen-loaded nanodroplets enhance and monitor cerebral damage from sonodynamic therapy. Nanotheranostics 2022; 6:376-387. [PMID: 35795341 PMCID: PMC9254362 DOI: 10.7150/ntno.71946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In sonodynamic therapy, cellular toxicity from sonosensitizer drugs, such as 5-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride (5-ALA), may be triggered with focused ultrasound through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here we show that by increasing local oxygen during treatment, using oxygen-loaded perfluorocarbon nanodroplets (250 +/- 8 nm), we can increase the damage induced by 5-ALA, and monitor the severity by recording acoustic emissions in the brain. To achieve this, we sonicated the right striatum of 16 healthy rats after an intravenous dose of 5-ALA (200 mg/kg), followed by saline, nanodroplets, or oxygen-loaded nanodroplets. We assessed haemorrhage, edema and cell apoptosis immediately following, 24 hr, and 48 hr after focused ultrasound treatment. The localized volume of damaged tissue was significantly enhanced by the presence of oxygen-loaded nanodroplets, compared to ultrasound with unloaded nanodroplets (3-fold increase), and ultrasound alone (40-fold increase). Sonicating 1 hr following 5-ALA injection was found to be more potent than 2 hr following 5-ALA injection (2-fold increase), and the severity of tissue damage corresponded to the acoustic emissions from droplet vaporization. Enhancing the local damage from 5-ALA with monitored cavitation activity and additional oxygen could have significant implications in the treatment of atherosclerosis and non-invasive ablative surgeries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Lea-Banks
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sheng-Kai Wu
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hannah Lee
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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7
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Heymans SV, Collado-Lara G, Rovituso M, Vos HJ, D'hooge J, de Jong N, Van Abeele KD. Acoustic Modulation Enables Proton Detection With Nanodroplets at Body Temperature. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2022; 69:2028-2038. [PMID: 35385380 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2022.3164805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Superheated nanodroplet (ND) vaporization by proton radiation was recently demonstrated, opening the door to ultrasound-based in vivo proton range verification. However, at body temperature and physiological pressures, perfluorobutane nanodroplets (PFB-NDs), which offer a good compromise between stability and radiation sensitivity, are not directly sensitive to primary protons. Instead, they are vaporized by infrequent secondary particles, which limits the precision for range verification. The radiation-induced vaporization threshold (i.e., sensitization threshold) can be reduced by lowering the pressure in the droplet such that ND vaporization by primary protons can occur. Here, we propose to use an acoustic field to modulate the pressure, intermittently lowering the proton sensitization threshold of PFB-NDs during the rarefactional phase of the ultrasound wave. Simultaneous proton irradiation and sonication with a 1.1 MHz focused transducer, using increasing peak negative pressures (PNPs), were applied on a dilution of PFB-NDs flowing in a tube, while vaporization was acoustically monitored with a linear array. Sensitization to primary protons was achieved at temperatures between [Formula: see text] and 40 °C using acoustic PNPs of relatively low amplitude (from 800 to 200 kPa, respectively), while sonication alone did not lead to ND vaporization at those PNPs. Sensitization was also measured at the clinically relevant body temperature (i.e., 37 °C) using a PNP of 400 kPa. These findings confirm that acoustic modulation lowers the sensitization threshold of superheated NDs, enabling a direct proton response at body temperature.
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Toumia Y, Pullia M, Domenici F, Facoetti A, Ferrarini M, Heymans SV, Carlier B, Van Den Abeele K, Sterpin E, D'hooge J, D'Agostino E, Paradossi G. Ultrasound-assisted carbon ion dosimetry and range measurement using injectable polymer-shelled phase-change nanodroplets: in vitro study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8012. [PMID: 35568710 PMCID: PMC9107472 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11524-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Methods allowing for in situ dosimetry and range verification are essential in radiotherapy to reduce the safety margins required to account for uncertainties introduced in the entire treatment workflow. This study suggests a non-invasive dosimetry concept for carbon ion radiotherapy based on phase-change ultrasound contrast agents. Injectable nanodroplets made of a metastable perfluorobutane (PFB) liquid core, stabilized with a crosslinked poly(vinylalcohol) shell, are vaporized at physiological temperature when exposed to carbon ion radiation (C-ions), converting them into echogenic microbubbles. Nanodroplets, embedded in tissue-mimicking phantoms, are exposed at 37 °C to a 312 MeV/u clinical C-ions beam at different doses between 0.1 and 4 Gy. The evaluation of the contrast enhancement from ultrasound imaging of the phantoms, pre- and post-irradiation, reveals a significant radiation-triggered nanodroplets vaporization occurring at the C-ions Bragg peak with sub-millimeter shift reproducibility and dose dependency. The specific response of the nanodroplets to C-ions is further confirmed by varying the phantom position, the beam range, and by performing spread-out Bragg peak irradiation. The nanodroplets' response to C-ions is influenced by their concentration and is dose rate independent. These early findings show the ground-breaking potential of polymer-shelled PFB nanodroplets to enable in vivo carbon ion dosimetry and range verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosra Toumia
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy. .,National Institute for Nuclear Physics, INFN Sez. Roma Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marco Pullia
- Fondazione CNAO, The National Center of Oncological Hadrontherapy, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fabio Domenici
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.,National Institute for Nuclear Physics, INFN Sez. Roma Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelica Facoetti
- Fondazione CNAO, The National Center of Oncological Hadrontherapy, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Michele Ferrarini
- Fondazione CNAO, The National Center of Oncological Hadrontherapy, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sophie V Heymans
- Department of Physics, KU Leuven Campus Kulak, Kortrijk, Belgium.,Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Biomedical Engineering, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Carlier
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Jan D'hooge
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Gaio Paradossi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.,National Institute for Nuclear Physics, INFN Sez. Roma Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
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9
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Nanotechnology for Enhancing Medical Imaging. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-9374-7_8-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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10
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Ho YJ, Huang CC, Fan CH, Liu HL, Yeh CK. Ultrasonic technologies in imaging and drug delivery. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:6119-6141. [PMID: 34297166 PMCID: PMC11072106 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03904-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ultrasonic technologies show great promise for diagnostic imaging and drug delivery in theranostic applications. The development of functional and molecular ultrasound imaging is based on the technical breakthrough of high frame-rate ultrasound. The evolution of shear wave elastography, high-frequency ultrasound imaging, ultrasound contrast imaging, and super-resolution blood flow imaging are described in this review. Recently, the therapeutic potential of the interaction of ultrasound with microbubble cavitation or droplet vaporization has become recognized. Microbubbles and phase-change droplets not only provide effective contrast media, but also show great therapeutic potential. Interaction with ultrasound induces unique and distinguishable biophysical features in microbubbles and droplets that promote drug loading and delivery. In particular, this approach demonstrates potential for central nervous system applications. Here, we systemically review the technological developments of theranostic ultrasound including novel ultrasound imaging techniques, the synergetic use of ultrasound with microbubbles and droplets, and microbubble/droplet drug-loading strategies for anticancer applications and disease modulation. These advancements have transformed ultrasound from a purely diagnostic utility into a promising theranostic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ju Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chung Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hsiang Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Li Liu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Chih-Kuang Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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11
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Toumia Y, Miceli R, Domenici F, Heymans SV, Carlier B, Cociorb M, Oddo L, Rossi P, D'Angellilo RM, Sterpin E, D'Agostino E, Van Den Abeele K, D'hooge J, Paradossi G. Ultrasound-assisted investigation of photon triggered vaporization of poly(vinylalcohol) phase-change nanodroplets: A preliminary concept study with dosimetry perspective. Phys Med 2021; 89:232-242. [PMID: 34425514 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We investigate the vaporization of phase-change ultrasound contrast agents using photon radiation for dosimetry perspectives in radiotherapy. METHODS We studied superheated perfluorobutane nanodroplets with a crosslinked poly(vinylalcohol) shell. The nanodroplets' physico-chemical properties, and their acoustic transition have been assessed firstly. Then, poly(vinylalcohol)-perfluorobutane nanodroplets were dispersed in poly(acrylamide) hydrogel phantoms and exposed to a photon beam. We addressed the effect of several parameters influencing the nanodroplets radiation sensitivity (energy/delivered dose/dose rate/temperature). The nanodroplets-vaporization post-photon exposure was evaluated using ultrasound imaging at a low mechanical index. RESULTS Poly(vinylalcohol)-perfluorobutane nanodroplets show a good colloidal stability over four weeks and remain highly stable at temperatures up to 78 °C. Nanodroplets acoustically-triggered phase transition leads to microbubbles with diameters <10 μm and an activation threshold of mechanical index = 0.4, at 7.5 MHz. A small number of vaporization events occur post-photon exposure (6MV/15MV), at doses between 2 and 10 Gy, leading to ultrasound contrast increase up to 60% at RT. The nanodroplets become efficiently sensitive to photons when heated to a temperature of 65 °C (while remaining below the superheat limit temperature) during irradiation. CONCLUSIONS Nanodroplets' core is linked to the degree of superheat in the metastable state and plays a critical role in determining nanodroplet' stability and sensitivity to ionizing radiation, requiring higher or lower linear energy transfer vaporization thresholds. While poly(vinylalcohol)-perfluorobutane nanodroplets could be slightly activated by photons at ambient conditions, a good balance between the degree of superheat and stability will aim at optimizing the design of nanodroplets to reach high sensitivity to photons at physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosra Toumia
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; INFN sez.Roma Tor Vergata, Italy.
| | - Roberto Miceli
- Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Tor Vergata (PTV), University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Fabio Domenici
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; INFN sez.Roma Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Sophie V Heymans
- Department of Physics, KU Leuven Campus Kulak, Kortrijk, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bram Carlier
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Madalina Cociorb
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; DoseVue, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Letizia Oddo
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Piero Rossi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, PTV, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Rolando Maria D'Angellilo
- Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Tor Vergata (PTV), University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Jan D'hooge
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gaio Paradossi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; INFN sez.Roma Tor Vergata, Italy
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12
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Tehrani Fateh S, Moradi L, Kohan E, Hamblin MR, Shiralizadeh Dezfuli A. Comprehensive review on ultrasound-responsive theranostic nanomaterials: mechanisms, structures and medical applications. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 12:808-862. [PMID: 34476167 PMCID: PMC8372309 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.12.64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The field of theranostics has been rapidly growing in recent years and nanotechnology has played a major role in this growth. Nanomaterials can be constructed to respond to a variety of different stimuli which can be internal (enzyme activity, redox potential, pH changes, temperature changes) or external (light, heat, magnetic fields, ultrasound). Theranostic nanomaterials can respond by producing an imaging signal and/or a therapeutic effect, which frequently involves cell death. Since ultrasound (US) is already well established as a clinical imaging modality, it is attractive to combine it with rationally designed nanoparticles for theranostics. The mechanisms of US interactions include cavitation microbubbles (MBs), acoustic droplet vaporization, acoustic radiation force, localized thermal effects, reactive oxygen species generation, sonoluminescence, and sonoporation. These effects can result in the release of encapsulated drugs or genes at the site of interest as well as cell death and considerable image enhancement. The present review discusses US-responsive theranostic nanomaterials under the following categories: MBs, micelles, liposomes (conventional and echogenic), niosomes, nanoemulsions, polymeric nanoparticles, chitosan nanocapsules, dendrimers, hydrogels, nanogels, gold nanoparticles, titania nanostructures, carbon nanostructures, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, fuel-free nano/micromotors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepand Tehrani Fateh
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Lida Moradi
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elmira Kohan
- Department of Science, University of Kurdistan, Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
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Krafft MP, Riess JG. Therapeutic oxygen delivery by perfluorocarbon-based colloids. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 294:102407. [PMID: 34120037 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2021.102407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
After the protocol-related indecisive clinical trial of Oxygent, a perfluorooctylbromide/phospholipid nanoemulsion, in cardiac surgery, that often unduly assigned the observed untoward effects to the product, the development of perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based O2 nanoemulsions ("blood substitutes") has come to a low. Yet, significant further demonstrations of PFC O2-delivery efficacy have continuously been reported, such as relief of hypoxia after myocardial infarction or stroke; protection of vital organs during surgery; potentiation of O2-dependent cancer therapies, including radio-, photodynamic-, chemo- and immunotherapies; regeneration of damaged nerve, bone or cartilage; preservation of organ grafts destined for transplantation; and control of gas supply in tissue engineering and biotechnological productions. PFC colloids capable of augmenting O2 delivery include primarily injectable PFC nanoemulsions, microbubbles and phase-shift nanoemulsions. Careful selection of PFC and other colloid components is critical. The basics of O2 delivery by PFC nanoemulsions will be briefly reminded. Improved knowledge of O2 delivery mechanisms has been acquired. Advanced, size-adjustable O2-delivering nanoemulsions have been designed that have extended room-temperature shelf-stability. Alternate O2 delivery options are being investigated that rely on injectable PFC-stabilized microbubbles or phase-shift PFC nanoemulsions. The latter combine prolonged circulation in the vasculature, capacity for penetrating tumor tissues, and acute responsiveness to ultrasound and other external stimuli. Progress in microbubble and phase-shift emulsion engineering, control of phase-shift activation (vaporization), understanding and control of bubble/ultrasound/tissue interactions is discussed. Control of the phase-shift event and of microbubble size require utmost attention. Further PFC-based colloidal systems, including polymeric micelles, PFC-loaded organic or inorganic nanoparticles and scaffolds, have been devised that also carry substantial amounts of O2. Local, on-demand O2 delivery can be triggered by external stimuli, including focused ultrasound irradiation or tumor microenvironment. PFC colloid functionalization and targeting can help adjust their properties for specific indications, augment their efficacy, improve safety profiles, and expand the range of their indications. Many new medical and biotechnological applications involving fluorinated colloids are being assessed, including in the clinic. Further uses of PFC-based colloidal nanotherapeutics will be briefly mentioned that concern contrast diagnostic imaging, including molecular imaging and immune cell tracking; controlled delivery of therapeutic energy, as for noninvasive surgical ablation and sonothrombolysis; and delivery of drugs and genes, including across the blood-brain barrier. Even when the fluorinated colloids investigated are designed for other purposes than O2 supply, they will inevitably also carry and deliver a certain amount of O2, and may thus be considered for O2 delivery or co-delivery applications. Conversely, O2-carrying PFC nanoemulsions possess by nature a unique aptitude for 19F MR imaging, and hence, cell tracking, while PFC-stabilized microbubbles are ideal resonators for ultrasound contrast imaging and can undergo precise manipulation and on-demand destruction by ultrasound waves, thereby opening multiple theranostic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Pierre Krafft
- University of Strasbourg, Institut Charles Sadron (CNRS), 23 rue du Loess, 67034 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Jean G Riess
- Harangoutte Institute, 68160 Ste Croix-aux-Mines, France
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14
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Wu Q, Mannaris C, May JP, Bau L, Polydorou A, Ferri S, Carugo D, Evans ND, Stride E. Investigation of the Acoustic Vaporization Threshold of Lipid-Coated Perfluorobutane Nanodroplets Using Both High-Speed Optical Imaging and Acoustic Methods. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2021; 47:1826-1843. [PMID: 33820668 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A combination of ultrahigh-speed optical imaging (5 × 106 frames/s), B-mode ultrasound and passive cavitation detection was used to study the vaporization process and determine both the acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) and inertial cavitation (IC) thresholds of phospholipid-coated perfluorobutane nanodroplets (PFB NDs, diameter = 237 ± 16 nm). PFB NDs have not previously been studied with ultrahigh-speed imaging and were observed to form individual microbubbles (1-10 μm) within two to three cycles and subsequently larger bubble clusters (10-50 μm). The ADV and IC thresholds did not statistically significantly differ and decreased with increasing pulse length (20-20,000 cycles), pulse repetition frequency (1-100 Hz), concentration (108-1010 NDs/mL), temperature (20°C-45°C) and decreasing frequency (1.5-0.5 MHz). Overall, the results indicate that at frequencies of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 MHz, PFB NDs can be vaporized at moderate peak negative pressures (<2.0 MPa), pulse lengths and pulse repetition frequencies. This finding is encouraging for the use of PFB NDs as cavitation agents, as these conditions are comparable to those required to achieve therapeutic effects with microbubbles, unlike those reported for higher-boiling-point NDs. The differences between the optically and acoustically determined ADV thresholds, however, suggest that application-specific thresholds should be defined according to the biological/therapeutic effect of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Wu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, Old Road Campus Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christophoros Mannaris
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, Old Road Campus Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan P May
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Bone and Joint Research Group, Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Bau
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, Old Road Campus Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anastasia Polydorou
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Bone and Joint Research Group, Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Ferri
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Bone and Joint Research Group, Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Dario Carugo
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Department of Pharmaceutics, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nicholas D Evans
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Bone and Joint Research Group, Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Stride
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, Old Road Campus Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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15
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Phase-Conversion Nanodroplets: Good Things Coming in Small Packages. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2021; 34:910-912. [PMID: 33962004 DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2021.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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16
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Heymans SV, Carlier B, Toumia Y, Nooijens S, Ingram M, Giammanco A, d'Agostino E, Crijns W, Bertrand A, Paradossi G, Himmelreich U, D'hooge J, Sterpin E, Van Den Abeele K. Modulating ultrasound contrast generation from injectable nanodroplets for proton range verification by varying the degree of superheat. Med Phys 2021; 48:1983-1995. [PMID: 33587754 DOI: 10.1002/mp.14778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite the physical benefits of protons over conventional photon radiation in cancer treatment, range uncertainties impede the ability to harness the full potential of proton therapy. While monitoring the proton range in vivo could reduce the currently adopted safety margins, a routinely applicable range verification technique is still lacking. Recently, phase-change nanodroplets were proposed for proton range verification, demonstrating a reproducible relationship between the proton range and generated ultrasound contrast after radiation-induced vaporization at 25°C. In this study, previous findings are extended with proton irradiations at different temperatures, including the physiological temperature of 37°C, for a novel nanodroplet formulation. Moreover, the potential to modulate the linear energy transfer (LET) threshold for vaporization by varying the degree of superheat is investigated, where the aim is to demonstrate vaporization of nanodroplets directly by primary protons. METHODS Perfluorobutane nanodroplets with a shell made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-PFB) or 10,12-pentacosadyinoic acid (PCDA-PFB) were dispersed in polyacrylamide hydrogels and irradiated with 62 MeV passively scattered protons at temperatures of 37°C and 50°C. Nanodroplet transition into echogenic microbubbles was assessed using ultrasound imaging (gray value and attenuation analysis) and optical images. The proton range was measured independently and compared to the generated contrast. RESULTS Nanodroplet design proved crucial to ensure thermal stability, as PVA-shelled nanodroplets dramatically outperformed their PCDA-shelled counterpart. At body temperature, a uniform radiation response proximal to the Bragg peak is attributed to nuclear reaction products interacting with PVA-PFB nanodroplets, with the 50% drop in ultrasound contrast being 0.17 mm ± 0.20 mm (mean ± standard deviation) in front of the proton range. Also at 50°C, highly reproducible ultrasound contrast profiles were obtained with shifts of -0.74 mm ± 0.09 mm (gray value analysis), -0.86 mm ± 0.04 mm (attenuation analysis) and -0.64 mm ± 0.29 mm (optical analysis). Moreover, a strong contrast enhancement was observed near the Bragg peak, suggesting that nanodroplets were sensitive to primary protons. CONCLUSIONS By varying the degree of superheat of the nanodroplets' core, one can modulate the intensity of the generated ultrasound contrast. Moreover, a submillimeter reproducible relationship between the ultrasound contrast and the proton range was obtained, either indirectly via the visualization of secondary reaction products or directly through the detection of primary protons, depending on the degree of superheat. The potential of PVA-PFB nanodroplets for in vivo proton range verification was confirmed by observing a reproducible radiation response at physiological temperature, and further studies aim to assess the nanodroplets' performance in a physiological environment. Ultimately, cost-effective online or offline ultrasound imaging of radiation-induced nanodroplet vaporization could facilitate the reduction of safety margins in treatment planning and enable adaptive proton therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie V Heymans
- Department of Physics, KU Leuven Campus Kulak, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Bram Carlier
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yosra Toumia
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Sjoerd Nooijens
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marcus Ingram
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | - Gaio Paradossi
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan D'hooge
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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17
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Lea-Banks H, Meng Y, Wu SK, Belhadjhamida R, Hamani C, Hynynen K. Ultrasound-sensitive nanodroplets achieve targeted neuromodulation. J Control Release 2021; 332:30-39. [PMID: 33600879 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound (FUS) offers an attractive tool for non-invasive neuromodulation, addressing a clinical need to develop more minimally invasive approaches that are safer, more tolerable and versatile. In combination with a cavitation agent, the effects of ultrasound can be amplified and localized for therapy. Using c-Fos expression mapping, we show how ultrasound-sensitive nanodroplets can be used to induce either neurosuppression or neurostimulation, without disrupting the blood-brain barrier in rats. By repurposing a commercial ultrasound contrast agent, Definity, lipid-shell decafluorobutane-core nanodroplets of 212.5 ± 2.0 nm were fabricated and loaded with or without pentobarbital. FUS was delivered with an atlas-based targeting system at 1.66 MHz to the motor cortex of rats, using a feedback-controller to detect successful nanodroplet vaporization and drug release. Neuromodulation was quantified through changes in sensorimotor function and c-Fos expression. Following FUS-triggered delivery, sham nanodroplets induced a 22.6 ± 21% increase in local c-Fos expression, whereas pentobarbital-loaded nanodroplets induced a 21.7 ± 13% decrease (n = 6). Nanodroplets, combined with FUS, offer an adaptable tool for neuromodulation, through local delivery of small molecule anesthetics or targeted mechanical effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Lea-Banks
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Ying Meng
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sheng-Kai Wu
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Clement Hamani
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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18
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Ultrasound. Mol Imaging 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816386-3.00018-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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19
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Li DS, Jeng GS, Pitre JJ, Kim M, Pozzo LD, O’Donnell M. Spatially localized sono-photoacoutic activation of phase-change contrast agents. PHOTOACOUSTICS 2020; 20:100202. [PMID: 32817821 PMCID: PMC7424230 DOI: 10.1016/j.pacs.2020.100202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Sono-photoacoustic (SPA) activation lowers the threshold of phase-change contrast agents by timing a laser shot to coincide with the arrival of an acoustic wave at a region of interest. The combination of photothermal heating from optical absorption and negative pressure from the acoustic wave greatly reduces the droplet's combined vaporization threshold compared to using laser energy or acoustic energy alone. In previous studies, SPA imaging used a broadly illuminated optical pulse combined with plane wave acoustic pulses transmitted from a linear ultrasound array. Acoustic plane waves cover a wide lateral field of view, enabling direct visualization of the contrast agent distribution. In contrast, we demonstrate here that localized SPA activation is possible using electronically steered/focused ultrasound pulses. The focused SPA activation region is defined axially by the number of cycles in the acoustic pulse and laterally by the acoustic beam width. By reducing the spot size and enabling rapid electronic steering, complex activation patterns are possible, which may be particularly useful in therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S. Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195 USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195 USA
| | - Geng-Shi Jeng
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195 USA
| | - John J. Pitre
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195 USA
| | - MinWoo Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195 USA
| | - Lilo D. Pozzo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195 USA
| | - Matthew O’Donnell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195 USA
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20
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Recent Advances on Ultrasound Contrast Agents for Blood-Brain Barrier Opening with Focused Ultrasound. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12111125. [PMID: 33233374 PMCID: PMC7700476 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12111125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier is the primary obstacle to efficient intracerebral drug delivery. Focused ultrasound, in conjunction with microbubbles, is a targeted and non-invasive way to disrupt the blood-brain barrier. Many commercially available ultrasound contrast agents and agents specifically designed for therapeutic purposes have been investigated in ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier opening studies. The new generation of sono-sensitive agents, such as liquid-core droplets, can also potentially disrupt the blood-brain barrier after their ultrasound-induced vaporization. In this review, we describe the different compositions of agents used for ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier opening in recent studies, and we discuss the challenges of the past five years related to the optimal formulation of agents.
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21
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Stride E, Segers T, Lajoinie G, Cherkaoui S, Bettinger T, Versluis M, Borden M. Microbubble Agents: New Directions. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:1326-1343. [PMID: 32169397 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Microbubble ultrasound contrast agents have now been in use for several decades and their safety and efficacy in a wide range of diagnostic applications have been well established. Recent progress in imaging technology is facilitating exciting developments in techniques such as molecular, 3-D and super resolution imaging and new agents are now being developed to meet their specific requirements. In parallel, there have been significant advances in the therapeutic applications of microbubbles, with recent clinical trials demonstrating drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier and into solid tumours. New agents are similarly being tailored toward these applications, including nanoscale microbubble precursors offering superior circulation times and tissue penetration. The development of novel agents does, however, present several challenges, particularly regarding the regulatory framework. This article reviews the developments in agents for diagnostic, therapeutic and "theranostic" applications; novel manufacturing techniques; and the opportunities and challenges for their commercial and clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Stride
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Tim Segers
- Physics of Fluids Group, Technical Medical (TechMed) Centre, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, The Netherlands
| | - Guillaume Lajoinie
- Physics of Fluids Group, Technical Medical (TechMed) Centre, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, The Netherlands
| | - Samir Cherkaoui
- Bracco Suisse SA - Business Unit Imaging, Global R&D, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
| | - Thierry Bettinger
- Bracco Suisse SA - Business Unit Imaging, Global R&D, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
| | - Michel Versluis
- Physics of Fluids Group, Technical Medical (TechMed) Centre, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, The Netherlands
| | - Mark Borden
- Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
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22
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Lea-Banks H, O'Reilly MA, Hamani C, Hynynen K. Localized anesthesia of a specific brain region using ultrasound-responsive barbiturate nanodroplets. Theranostics 2020; 10:2849-2858. [PMID: 32194839 PMCID: PMC7052887 DOI: 10.7150/thno.41566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Targeted neuromodulation is a valuable technique for the study and treatment of the brain. Using focused ultrasound to target the local delivery of anesthetics in the brain offers a safe and reproducible option for suppressing neuronal activity. Objective: To develop a potential new tool for localized neuromodulation through the triggered release of pentobarbital from ultrasound-responsive nanodroplets. Method: The commercial microbubble contrast agent, Definity, was filled with decafluorobutane gas and loaded with a lipophilic anesthetic drug, before being condensed into liquid-filled nanodroplets of 210 ± 80 nm. Focused ultrasound at 0.58 MHz was found to convert nanodroplets into microbubbles, simultaneously releasing the drug and inducing local anesthesia in the motor cortex of rats (n=8). Results: Behavioral analysis indicated a 19.1 ± 13% motor deficit on the contralateral side of treated animals, assessed through the cylinder test and gait analysis, illustrating successful local anesthesia, without compromising the blood-brain barrier. Conclusion: Pentobarbital-loaded decafluorobutane-core Definity-based nanodroplets are a potential agent for ultrasound-triggered and targeted neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Lea-Banks
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Meaghan A. O'Reilly
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Clement Hamani
- Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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23
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Yaqiong LP, Ruiqing LMD, Shaobo DMD, Lianzhong ZMD. Advances in Targeted Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy Based on Ultrasound-Responsive Nanodroplets. ADVANCED ULTRASOUND IN DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY 2020. [DOI: 10.37015/audt.2020.200043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
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24
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Toumia Y, Cerroni B, Domenici F, Lange H, Bianchi L, Cociorb M, Brasili F, Chiessi E, D'Agostino E, Van Den Abeele K, Heymans SV, D'Hooge J, Paradossi G. Phase Change Ultrasound Contrast Agents with a Photopolymerized Diacetylene Shell. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:10116-10127. [PMID: 31042396 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b01160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Phase change contrast agents for ultrasound (US) imaging consist of nanodroplets (NDs) with a perfluorocarbon (PFC) liquid core stabilized with a lipid or a polymer shell. Liquid ↔ gas transition, occurring in the core, can be triggered by US to produce acoustically active microbubbles (MBs) in a process named acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV). MB shells containing polymerized diacetylene moiety were considered as a good trade off between the lipid MBs, showing optimal attenuation, and the polymeric ones, displaying enhanced stability. This work reports on novel perfluoropentane and perfluorobutane NDs stabilized with a monolayer of an amphiphilic fatty acid, i.e. 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA), cured with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The photopolymerization of the diacetylene groups, evidenced by the appearance of a blue color due to the conjugation of ene-yne sequences, exhibits a chromatic transition from the nonfluorescent blue color to a fluorescent red color when the NDs are heated or the pH of the suspension is basic. An estimate of the molecular weights reached by the polymerized PCDA in the shell, poly(PCDA), has been obtained using gel permeation chromatography and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The poly(PCDA)/PFC NDs show good biocompatibility with fibroblast cells. ADV efficiency and acoustic properties before and after the transition were tested using a 1 MHz probe, revealing a resonance frequency between 1 and 2 MHz similar to other lipidic MBs. The surface of PCDA shelled NDs can be easily modified without influencing the stability and the acoustic performances of droplets. As a proof of concept we report on the conjugation of cyclic RGD and PEG chains of the particles to support targeting ability toward endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosra Toumia
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 , Rome , Italy
| | - Barbara Cerroni
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 , Rome , Italy
| | - Fabio Domenici
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 , Rome , Italy
| | - Heiko Lange
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 , Rome , Italy
| | - Livia Bianchi
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 , Rome , Italy
| | - Madalina Cociorb
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 , Rome , Italy
| | - Francesco Brasili
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 , Rome , Italy
| | - Ester Chiessi
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 , Rome , Italy
| | - Emiliano D'Agostino
- DoseVue NV , Philips Open Manufacturing Campus , Slachthuisstraat 96 , B-2300 Turnhout , Belgium
| | | | - Sophie V Heymans
- Department of Physics , KU Leuven , Kulak, 8500 Kortrijk , Belgium
| | - Jan D'Hooge
- Medical Center , KU Leuven , 3000 Leuven , Belgium
| | - Gaio Paradossi
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 , Rome , Italy
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25
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Loskutova K, Grishenkov D, Ghorbani M. Review on Acoustic Droplet Vaporization in Ultrasound Diagnostics and Therapeutics. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:9480193. [PMID: 31392217 PMCID: PMC6662494 DOI: 10.1155/2019/9480193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) is the physical process in which liquid undergoes phase transition to gas after exposure to a pressure amplitude above a certain threshold. In recent years, new techniques in ultrasound diagnostics and therapeutics have been developed which utilize microformulations with various physical and chemical properties. The purpose of this review is to give the reader a general idea on how ADV can be implemented for the existing biomedical applications of droplet vaporization. In this regard, the recent developments in ultrasound therapy which shed light on the ADV are considered. Modern designs of capsules and nanodroplets (NDs) are shown, and the material choices and their implications for function are discussed. The influence of the physical properties of the induced acoustic field, the surrounding medium, and thermophysical effects on the vaporization are presented. Lastly, current challenges and potential future applications towards the implementation of the therapeutic droplets are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ksenia Loskutova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-141 57 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Dmitry Grishenkov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-141 57 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Morteza Ghorbani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-141 57 Huddinge, Sweden
- Mechatronics Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
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26
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Raut S, Khairalseed M, Honari A, Sirsi SR, Hoyt K. Impact of hydrostatic pressure on phase-change contrast agent activation by pulsed ultrasound. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 145:3457. [PMID: 31255129 PMCID: PMC6570615 DOI: 10.1121/1.5111345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
A phase-change contrast agent (PCCA) can be activated from a liquid (nanodroplet) state using pulsed ultrasound (US) energy to form a larger highly echogenic microbubble (MB). PCCA activation is dependent on the ambient pressure of the surrounding media, so any increase in hydrostatic pressure demands higher US energies to phase transition. In this paper, the authors explore this basic relationship as a potential direction for noninvasive pressure measurement and foundation of a unique technology the authors are developing termed tumor interstitial pressure estimation using ultrasound (TIPE-US). TIPE-US was developed using a programmable US research scanner. A custom scan sequence interleaved pulsed US transmissions for both PCCA activation and detection. An automated US pressure sweep was applied, and US images were acquired at each increment. Various hydrostatic pressures were applied to PCCA samples. Pressurized samples were imaged using the TIPE-US system. The activation threshold required to convert PCCA from the liquid to gaseous state was recorded for various US and PCCA conditions. Given the relationship between the hydrostatic pressure applied to the PCCA and US energy needed for activation, phase transition can be used as a surrogate of hydrostatic pressure. Consistent with theoretical predictions, the PCCA activation threshold was lowered with increasing sample temperature and by decreasing the frequency of US exposure, but it was not impacted by PCCA concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Raut
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Mawia Khairalseed
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Arvin Honari
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Shashank R Sirsi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Kenneth Hoyt
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
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27
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Martin AL, Homenick CM, Xiang Y, Gillies E, Matsuura N. Polyelectrolyte Coatings Can Control Charged Fluorocarbon Nanodroplet Stability and Their Interaction with Macrophage Cells. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:4603-4612. [PMID: 30757902 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b04051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Fluorocarbon nanodroplets, ∼100 to ∼400 nm in diameter, are of immense interest in a variety of medical applications including the imaging and therapy of cancer and inflammatory diseases. However, fluorocarbon molecules are both hydrophobic and lipophobic; therefore, it is challenging to synthesize fluorocarbon nanodroplets with the optimal stability and surface properties without the use of highly specialized surfactants. Here, we hypothesize that we can decouple the control of fluorocarbon nanodroplet size and stability from its surface properties. We use a simple, two-step procedure where standard, easily available anionic fluorosurfactants are used to first stabilize the fluorocarbon nanodroplets, followed by electrostatically attaching functionalized polyelectrolytes to the nanodroplet surfaces to independently control their surface properties. Herein, we demonstrate that PEGylated polyelectrolyte coatings can effectively alter the fluorocarbon nanodroplet surface properties to reduce coalescence and its uptake into phagocytic cells in comparison with non-PEGylated polyelectrolyte coatings and uncoated nanodroplets, as measured by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. In this study, perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) was used as a representative fluorocarbon material, and PEGylated PFOB nanodroplets with diameters between 250 and 290 nm, depending on the poly(ethylene glycol) block length, were prepared. The PEGylated PFOB nanodroplets had superior size stability in comparison with uncoated and non-PEGylated polyelectrolyte nanodroplets in saline and within macrophage cells. Of significance, non-PEGylated nanodroplets were rapidly internalized by macrophage cells, whereas PEGylated nanodroplets were predominantly colocalized on the cell membrane. This suggests that the PEGylated-polyelectrolyte coating on the charged PFOB nanodroplets may afford adjustable shielding from cells of the reticuloendothelial system. This report shows that using the same fluorosurfactant as a base layer, modularly assembled PFOB nanodroplets tailored for a variety of end applications can be created by selecting different polyelectrolyte coatings depending on their unique requirements for stability and interaction with phagocytic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Martin
- Physical Sciences , Sunnybrook Research Institute , Toronto , Ontario M4N 3M5 , Canada
| | - Christa M Homenick
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering , The University of Western Ontario , London , Ontario N6A 5B7 , Canada
| | | | - Elizabeth Gillies
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering , The University of Western Ontario , London , Ontario N6A 5B7 , Canada
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28
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Zhu YI, Yoon H, Zhao AX, Emelianov SY. Leveraging the Imaging Transmit Pulse to Manipulate Phase-Change Nanodroplets for Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2019; 66:692-700. [PMID: 30703017 PMCID: PMC6545583 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2019.2895248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Phase-change perfluorohexane nanodroplets (PFHnDs) are a new class of recondensable submicrometer-sized contrast agents that have potential for contrast-enhanced and super-resolution ultrasound imaging with an ability to reach extravascular targets. The PFHnDs can be optically triggered to undergo vaporization, resulting in spatially stationary, temporally transient microbubbles. The vaporized PFHnDs are hyperechoic in ultrasound imaging for several to hundreds of milliseconds before recondensing to their native, hypoechoic, liquid nanodroplet state. The decay of echogenicity, i.e., the dynamic behavior of the ultrasound signal from optically triggered PFHnDs in ultrasound imaging, can be captured using high-frame-rate ultrasound imaging. We explore the possibility to manipulate the echogenicity dynamics of optically triggered PFHnDs in ultrasound imaging by changing the phase of the ultrasound imaging pulse. Specifically, the ultrasound imaging system was programmed to transmit two imaging pulses with inverse polarities. We show that the imaging pulse phase can affect the amplitude and the temporal behavior of PFHnD echogenicity in ultrasound imaging. The results of this study demonstrate that the ultrasound echogenicity is significantly increased (about 78% improvement) and the hyperechoic timespan of optically triggered PFHnDs is significantly longer (about four times) if the nanodroplets are imaged by an ultrasound pulse starting with rarefactional pressure versus a pulse starting with compressional pressure. Our finding has direct and significant implications for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of droplets in applications such as super-resolution imaging and molecular imaging where detection of individual or low-concentration PFHnDs is required.
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29
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Zhang G, Harput S, Hu H, Christensen-Jeffries K, Zhu J, Brown J, Leow CH, Eckersley RJ, Dunsby C, Tang MX. Fast Acoustic Wave Sparsely Activated Localization Microscopy (fast-AWSALM): Ultrasound Super-Resolution using Plane-Wave Activation of Nanodroplets. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2019; 66:1039-1046. [PMID: 30908211 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2019.2906496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Localization-based ultrasound super-resolution imaging using microbubble contrast agents and phase-change nano-droplets has been developed to visualize microvascular structures beyond the diffraction limit. However, the long data acquisition time makes the clinical translation more challenging. In this study, fast acoustic wave sparsely activated localization microscopy (fast-AWSALM) was developed to achieve super-resolved frames with sub-second temporal resolution, by using low-boiling-point octafluoropropane nanodroplets and high frame rate plane waves for activation, destruction, as well as imaging. Fast-AWSALM was demonstrated on an in vitro microvascular phantom to super-resolve structures that could not be resolved by conventional B-mode imaging. The effects of the temperature and mechanical index on fast-AWSALM was investigated. Experimental results show that sub-wavelength micro-structures as small as 190 lm were resolvable in 200 ms with plane-wave transmission at a center frequency of 3.5 MHz and a pulse repetition frequency of 5000 Hz. This is about a 3.5 fold reduction in point spread function full-width-half-maximum compared to that measured in conventional B-mode, and two orders of magnitude faster than the recently reported AWSALM under a non-flow/very slow flow situations and other localization based methods. Just as in AWSALM, fast-AWSALM does not require flow, as is required by current microbubble based ultrasound super resolution techniques. In conclusion, this study shows the promise of fast-AWSALM, a super-resolution ultrasound technique using nanodroplets, which can generate super-resolution images in milli-seconds and does not require flow.
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30
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Xiang Y, Bernards N, Hoang B, Zheng J, Matsuura N. Perfluorocarbon nanodroplets can reoxygenate hypoxic tumors in vivo without carbogen breathing. Nanotheranostics 2019; 3:135-144. [PMID: 31008022 PMCID: PMC6470341 DOI: 10.7150/ntno.29908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanoscale perfluorocarbon (PFC) droplets have enormous potential as clinical theranostic agents. They are biocompatible and are currently used in vivo as contrast agents for a variety of medical imaging modalities, including ultrasound, computed tomography, photoacoustic and 19F-magnetic resonance imaging. PFC nanodroplets can also carry molecular and nanoparticulate drugs and be activated in situ by ultrasound or light for targeted therapy. Recently, there has been renewed interest in using PFC nanodroplets for hypoxic tumor reoxygenation towards radiosensitization based on the high oxygen solubility of PFCs. Previous studies showed that tumor oxygenation using PFC agents only occurs in combination with enhanced oxygen breathing. However, recent studies suggest that PFC agents that accumulate in solid tumors can contribute to radiosensitization, presumably due to tumor reoxygenation without enhanced oxygen breathing. In this study, we quantify the impact of oxygenation due to PFC nanodroplet accumulation in tumors alone in comparison with other reoxygenation methodologies, in particular, carbogen breathing. Methods: Lipid-stabilized, PFC (i.e., perfluorooctyl bromide, CF3(CF2)7Br, PFOB) nanoscale droplets were synthesized and evaluated in xenograft prostate (DU145) tumors in male mice. Biodistribution assessment of the nanodroplets was achieved using a fluorescent lipophilic indocarbocyanine dye label (i.e., DiI dye) on the lipid shell in combination with fluorescence imaging in mice (n≥3 per group). Hypoxia reduction in tumors was measured using PET imaging and a known hypoxia radiotracer, [18F]FAZA (n≥ 3 per group). Results: Lipid-stabilized nanoscale PFOB emulsions (mean diameter of ~250 nm), accumulated in the xenograft prostate tumors in mice 24 hours post-injection. In vivo PET imaging with [18F]FAZA showed that the accumulation of the PFOB nanodroplets in the tumor tissues alone significantly reduced tumor hypoxia, without enhanced oxygen (i.e., carbogen) breathing. This reoxygenation effect was found to be comparable with carbogen breathing alone. Conclusion: Accumulation of nanoscale PFOB agents in solid tumors alone successfully reoxygenated hypoxic tumors to levels comparable with carbogen breathing alone, an established tumor oxygenation method. This study confirms that PFC agents can be used to reoxygenate hypoxic tumors in addition to their current applications as multifunctional theranostic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Xiang
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicholas Bernards
- TECHNA Institute for the Advancement of Technology for Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bryan Hoang
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- TECHNA Institute for the Advancement of Technology for Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jinzi Zheng
- TECHNA Institute for the Advancement of Technology for Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Naomi Matsuura
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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31
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Lea-Banks H, O'Reilly MA, Hynynen K. Ultrasound-responsive droplets for therapy: A review. J Control Release 2019; 293:144-154. [PMID: 30503398 PMCID: PMC6459400 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The last two decades have seen the development of acoustically activated droplets, also known as phase-change emulsions, from a diagnostic tool to a therapeutic agent. Through bubble effects and triggered drug release, these superheated agents have found potential applications from oncology to neuromodulation. The aim of this review is to summarise the key developments in therapeutic droplet design and use, to discuss the current challenges slowing clinical translation, and to highlight the new frontiers progressing towards clinical implementation. The literature is summarised by addressing the droplet design criteria and by carrying out a multiparametric study of a range of droplet formulations and their associated vaporisation thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Lea-Banks
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - M A O'Reilly
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - K Hynynen
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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32
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Zlitni A, Gambhir SS. Molecular imaging agents for ultrasound. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2018; 45:113-120. [PMID: 29631121 PMCID: PMC6609297 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ultrasound (US) imaging is a safe, sensitive and affordable imaging modality with a wide usage in the clinic. US signal can be further enhanced by using echogenic contrast agents (UCAs) which amplify the US signal. Developments in UCAs which are targeted to sites of disease allow the use of US imaging to provide molecular information. Unfortunately, traditional UCAs are too large to leave the vascular space limiting the application of molecular US to intravascular markers. In this mini review, we highlight the most recent reports on the application of molecular US imaging in the clinic and summarize the latest nanoparticle platforms used to develop nUCAs. We believe that the highlighted technologies will have a great impact on the evolution of the US imaging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimen Zlitni
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Sanjiv S Gambhir
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; Department of Bioengineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.
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33
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Yoo K, Walker WR, Williams R, Tremblay-Darveau C, Burns PN, Sheeran PS. Impact of Encapsulation on in vitro and in vivo Performance of Volatile Nanoscale Phase-Shift Perfluorocarbon Droplets. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2018; 44:1836-1852. [PMID: 29908752 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Phase-shift droplets can be converted by sound from low-echogenicity, liquid-core agents into highly echogenic microbubbles. Many proposed applications in imaging and therapy take advantage of the high spatiotemporal control over this dynamic transition. Although some studies have reported increased circulation time of the droplets compared with microbubbles, few have directly explored the impact of encapsulation on droplet performance. With the goal of developing nanoscale droplets with increased circulatory persistence, we first evaluate the half-life of several candidate phospholipid encapsulations in vitro at clinical frequencies. To evaluate in vivo circulatory persistence, we develop a technique to periodically measure droplet vaporization from high-frequency B-mode scans of a mouse kidney. Results show that longer acyl chain phospholipids can dramatically reduce droplet degradation, increasing median half-life in vitro to 25.6 min-a 50-fold increase over droplets formed from phospholipids commonly used for clinical microbubbles. In vivo, the best-performing droplet formulations showed a median half-life of 18.4 min, more than a 35-fold increase in circulatory half-life compared with microbubbles with the same encapsulation in vivo. These findings also point to possible refinements that may improve nanoscale phase-shift droplet performance beyond those measured here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimoon Yoo
- Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wesley R Walker
- Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ross Williams
- Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charles Tremblay-Darveau
- Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter N Burns
- Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul S Sheeran
- Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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34
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Ho YJ, Chiang YJ, Kang ST, Fan CH, Yeh CK. Camptothecin-loaded fusogenic nanodroplets as ultrasound theranostic agent in stem cell-mediated drug-delivery system. J Control Release 2018; 278:100-109. [PMID: 29630986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been utilized in cellular delivery systems to carry therapeutic agents into tumors by migration. Drug-loaded nanodroplets release drugs and form bubbles after acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) triggered by ultrasound stimulation, providing a system for ultrasound-induced cellular delivery of theranostic agents. In order to improve the efficiency of drug release, fusogenic nanodroplets were designed to go from nano to micron size upon uptake by ADSCs for reducing ADV threshold. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the utility of camptothecin-loaded fusogenic nanodroplets (CPT-FNDs) as ultrasound theranostic agents in an ADSCs delivery system. CPT-FNDs showed an increase in size from 81.6 ± 3.5 to 1043.5 ± 28.3 nm and improved CPT release from 22.0 ± 1.8% to 37.6 ± 2.1%, demonstrating the fusion ability of CPT-FNDs. CPT-FNDs-loaded ADSCs demonstrated a cell viability of 77 ± 4%, and the in vitro migration ability was 3.2 ± 1.2-fold for the tumor condition compared to the cell growth condition. Ultrasound enhancement imaging showed intratumoral ADV-generated bubble formation (increasing 3.24 ± 0.47 dB) triggered by ultrasound after CPT-FNDs-loaded ADSCs migration into B16F0 tumors. Histological images revealed intratumoral distribution of CPT-FNDs-loaded ADSCs and tissue damage due to the ADV. The CPT-FNDs can be used as theranostic agents in an ADSCs delivery system to provide the ultrasound contrast imaging and deliver combination therapy of drug release and physical damage after ADV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ju Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jung Chiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Tsung Kang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hsiang Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Kuang Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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35
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Lin S, Zhang G, Jamburidze A, Chee M, Leow CH, Garbin V, Tang MX. Imaging of vaporised sub-micron phase change contrast agents with high frame rate ultrasound and optics. Phys Med Biol 2018; 63:065002. [PMID: 29384498 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aaac05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Phase-change ultrasound contrast agent (PCCA), or nanodroplet, shows promise as an alternative to the conventional microbubble agent over a wide range of diagnostic applications. Meanwhile, high-frame-rate (HFR) ultrasound imaging with microbubbles enables unprecedented temporal resolution compared to traditional contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. The combination of HFR ultrasound imaging and PCCAs can offer the opportunity to observe and better understand PCCA behaviour after vaporisation captures the fast phenomenon at a high temporal resolution. In this study, we utilised HFR ultrasound at frame rates in the kilohertz range (5-20 kHz) to image native and size-selected PCCA populations immediately after vaporisation in vitro within clinical acoustic parameters. The size-selected PCCAs through filtration are shown to preserve a sub-micron-sized (mean diameter < 200 nm) population without micron-sized outliers (>1 µm) that originate from native PCCA emulsion. The results demonstrate imaging signals with different amplitudes and temporal features compared to that of microbubbles. Compared with the microbubbles, both the B-mode and pulse-inversion (PI) signals from the vaporised PCCA populations were reduced significantly in the first tens of milliseconds, while only the B-mode signals from the PCCAs were recovered during the next 400 ms, suggesting significant changes to the size distribution of the PCCAs after vaporisation. It is also shown that such recovery in signal over time is not evident when using size-selective PCCAs. Furthermore, it was found that signals from the vaporised PCCA populations are affected by the amplitude and frame rate of the HFR ultrasound imaging. Using high-speed optical camera observation (30 kHz), we observed a change in particle size in the vaporised PCCA populations exposed to the HFR ultrasound imaging pulses. These findings can further the understanding of PCCA behaviour under HFR ultrasound imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengtao Lin
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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36
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Zullino S, Argenziano M, Stura I, Guiot C, Cavalli R. From Micro- to Nano-Multifunctional Theranostic Platform: Effective Ultrasound Imaging Is Not Just a Matter of Scale. Mol Imaging 2018; 17:1536012118778216. [PMID: 30213222 PMCID: PMC6144578 DOI: 10.1177/1536012118778216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasound Contrast Agents (UCAs) consisting of gas-filled-coated Microbubbles (MBs) with diameters between 1 and 10 µm have been used for a number of decades in diagnostic imaging. In recent years, submicron contrast agents have proven to be a viable alternative to MBs for ultrasound (US)-based applications for their capability to extravasate and accumulate in the tumor tissue via the enhanced permeability and retention effect. After a short overview of the more recent approaches to ultrasound-mediated imaging and therapeutics at the nanoscale, phase-change contrast agents (PCCAs), which can be phase-transitioned into highly echogenic MBs by means of US, are here presented. The phenomenon of acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) to produce bubbles is widely investigated for both imaging and therapeutic applications to develop promising theranostic platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Zullino
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Monica Argenziano
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ilaria Stura
- Department of Clinical and Biological Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Caterina Guiot
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Roberta Cavalli
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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37
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Lin S, Zhang G, Leow CH, Tang MX. Effects of microchannel confinement on acoustic vaporisation of ultrasound phase change contrast agents. Phys Med Biol 2017; 62:6884-6898. [PMID: 28718774 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aa8076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The sub-micron phase change contrast agent (PCCA) composed of a perfluorocarbon liquid core can be activated into gaseous state and form stable echogenic microbubbles for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. It has shown great promise in imaging microvasculature, tumour microenvironment, and cancer cells. Although PCCAs have been extensively studied for different diagnostic and therapeutic applications, the effect of biologically geometrical confinement on the acoustic vaporisation of PCCAs is still not clear. We have investigated the difference in PCCA-produced ultrasound contrast enhancement after acoustic activation with and without a microvessel confinement on a microchannel phantom. The experimental results indicated more than one-order of magnitude less acoustic vaporisation in a microchannel than that in a free environment taking into account the attenuation effect of the vessel on the microbubble scattering. This may provide an improved understanding in the applications of PCCAs in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengtao Lin
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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38
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Gao Y, Hernandez C, Yuan HX, Lilly J, Kota P, Zhou H, Wu H, Exner AA. Ultrasound molecular imaging of ovarian cancer with CA-125 targeted nanobubble contrast agents. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2017; 13:2159-2168. [PMID: 28603079 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound is frequently utilized in diagnosis of gynecologic malignancies such as ovarian cancer. Because epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is often characterized by overexpression of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125), ultrasound contrast agents able to target this molecular signature could be a promising complementary strategy. In this work, we demonstrate application of CA-125-targeted echogenic lipid and surfactant-stabilized nanobubbles imaged with standard clinical contrast harmonic ultrasound for imaging of CA-125 positive OVCAR-3 tumors in mice. Surface functionalization of the nanobubbles with a CA-125 antibody achieved rapid significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced tumor accumulation, higher peak ultrasound signal intensity and slower wash out rates in OVCAR-3 tumors compared to CA-125 negative SKOV-3 tumors. Targeted nanobubbles also exhibited increased tumor retention and prolonged echogenicity compared to untargeted nanobubbles. Data suggest that ultrasound molecular imaging using CA-125 antibody-conjugated nanobubbles may contribute to improved diagnosis of EOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Gao
- Department of Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Department of Radiology, Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Christopher Hernandez
- Department of Radiology, Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Hai-Xia Yuan
- Department of Radiology, Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Jacob Lilly
- Department of Radiology, Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Pavan Kota
- Department of Radiology, Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Haoyan Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Hanping Wu
- Department of Radiology, Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Agata A Exner
- Department of Radiology, Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Sheeran PS, Matsuura N, Borden MA, Williams R, Matsunaga TO, Burns PN, Dayton PA. Methods of Generating Submicrometer Phase-Shift Perfluorocarbon Droplets for Applications in Medical Ultrasonography. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2017; 64:252-263. [PMID: 27775902 PMCID: PMC5706463 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2016.2619685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Continued advances in the field of ultrasound and ultrasound contrast agents have created new approaches to imaging and medical intervention. Phase-shift perfluorocarbon droplets, which can be vaporized by ultrasound energy to transition from the liquid to the vapor state, are one of the most highly researched alternatives to clinical ultrasound contrast agents (i.e., microbubbles). In this paper, part of a special issue on methods in biomedical ultrasonics, we survey current techniques to prepare ultrasound-activated nanoscale phase-shift perfluorocarbon droplets, including sonication, extrusion, homogenization, microfluidics, and microbubble condensation. We provide example protocols and discuss advantages and limitations of each approach. Finally, we discuss best practice in characterization of this class of contrast agents with respect to size distribution and ultrasound activation.
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