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Melich R, Emmel P, Vivien A, Sechaud F, Mandaroux C, Mhedhbi S, Bussat P, Tardy I, Cherkaoui S. In Vitro and In Vivo Behavioral Evaluation of Condensed Lipid-Coated Perfluorocarbon Nanodroplets. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2024; 50:1010-1019. [PMID: 38637170 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2024.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Phase-shift contrast agents consist of a liquid perfluorocarbon core that can be vaporized by ultrasound to generate echogenic contrast with excellent spatiotemporal control. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo behavior of condensed lipid-shelled nanodroplets (NDs) using different analytical procedures. METHODS Perfluorobutane NDs were prepared by condensation of precursor fluorescently labeled lipid-shelled microbubbles (MBs) and were characterized in terms of size distribution, gas core content and in vitro stability in blood, as well as for their acoustic vaporization behavior using a custom-made setup. In particular, the in vivo behavior of the NDs was thoroughly investigated after intravenous bolus injection in rats. To this end, we report, for the first time, the efficient use of three complementary detection procedures to assess the in vivo persistence of NDs: (i) ultrasound contrast imaging of vaporized NDs, (ii) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine the perfluorobutane core content and (iii) fluorescence intensity measurement in the collected blood samples. RESULTS The Coulter Counter Multisizer results confirmed the size distribution shift post-condensation. Furthermore, similar PFB concentrations from MB and ND suspensions were obtained, indicating an exceptionally low rate of MB breakage and spontaneous nanodroplet vaporization. As expected, these nanoscale droplets have longer circulation times compared with clinically approved MBs, and only slight variations in half-life were observed between the three monitoring procedures. Finally, echogenic signal observed in focal areas of the liver and spleen after vaporization was confirmed by accumulation of fluorescent nanodroplets in these organs. CONCLUSION These results further contribute to our understanding of both the in vitro and in vivo behavior of sono-responsive nanodroplets, which is key to enabling efficient clinical translation.
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Chen J, Zhao C, Liu H, Wang Z, Ma L, Zhang J, Xu N, Hu K, Duan L. Integrated micro/nano drug delivery system based on magnetically responsive phase-change droplets for ultrasound theranostics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1323056. [PMID: 38665816 PMCID: PMC11043469 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1323056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Phase-change droplets (PCDs) are intelligent responsive micro and nanomaterials developed based on micro/nano bubbles. Subject to external energy inputs such as temperature and ultrasound, the core substance, perfluorocarbon (PFC), undergoes a phase transition from liquid to gas. This transformation precipitates alterations in the PCDs' structure, size, ultrasound imaging capabilities, drug delivery efficiency, and other pertinent characteristics. This gives them the ability to exhibit "intelligent responses". This study utilized lipids as the membrane shell material and perfluorohexane (PFH) as the core to prepare lipid phase-change droplets. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (PEG-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles) and the anti-tumor drug curcumin (Cur) were loaded into the membrane shell, forming magnetic drug-loaded phase-change droplets (Fe-Cur-NDs). These nanoscale phase-change droplets exhibited excellent magnetic resonance/ultrasound imaging capabilities and thermal/ultrasound-mediated drug release. The Fe-Cur-NDs showed excellent anti-tumor efficacy for the MCF-7 cells under low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) guidance in vitro. Therefore, Fe-Cur-NDs represent a promising smart responsive theranostic integrated micro/nano drug delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieying Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chan Zhao
- Department of Clinical Medical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhangchao Wang
- Stomatological College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Luyao Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiamin Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ning Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ke Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Duan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Pellow C, Jafari Sojahrood A, Zhao X, Kolios MC, Exner AA, Goertz DE. Synchronous Intravital Imaging and Cavitation Monitoring of Antivascular Focused Ultrasound in Tumor Microvasculature Using Monodisperse Low Boiling Point Nanodroplets. ACS NANO 2024; 18:410-427. [PMID: 38147452 PMCID: PMC10786165 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c07711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles can induce blood flow shutdown and ischemic necrosis at higher pressures in an approach termed antivascular ultrasound. Combined with conventional therapies of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy, this approach has demonstrated tumor growth inhibition and profound synergistic antitumor effects. However, the lower cavitation threshold of microbubbles can potentially yield off-target damage that the polydispersity of clinical agent may further exacerbate. Here we investigate the use of a monodisperse nanodroplet formulation for achieving antivascular effects in tumors. We first develop stable low boiling point monodisperse lipid nanodroplets and examine them as an alternative agent to mediate antivascular ultrasound. With synchronous intravital imaging and ultrasound monitoring of focused ultrasound-stimulated nanodroplets in tumor microvasculature, we show that nanodroplets can trigger blood flow shutdown and do so with a sharper pressure threshold and with fewer additional events than conventionally used microbubbles. We further leverage the smaller size and prolonged pharmacokinetic profile of nanodroplets to allow for potential passive accumulation in tumor tissue prior to antivascular ultrasound, which may be a means by which to promote selective tumor targeting. We find that vascular shutdown is accompanied by inertial cavitation and complex-order sub- and ultraharmonic acoustic signatures, presenting an opportunity for effective feedback control of antivascular ultrasound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Pellow
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Amin Jafari Sojahrood
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto M5B 2K3, Canada
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology (iBEST), a partnership between St. Michael's Hospital, a site of Unity Health Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhao
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Michael C Kolios
- Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto M5B 2K3, Canada
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology (iBEST), a partnership between St. Michael's Hospital, a site of Unity Health Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Agata A Exner
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - David E Goertz
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada
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4
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Alcaraz PE, Davidson SJ, Shreeve E, Meuschke R, Romanowski M, Witte RS, Porter TR, Matsunaga TO. Thermal and Acoustic Stabilization Of Volatile Phase-Change Contrast Agents Via Layer-By-Layer Assembly. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2023; 49:1058-1069. [PMID: 36797095 PMCID: PMC10050125 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Phase-change contrast agents (PCCAs) are perfluorocarbon nanodroplets (NDs) that have been widely studied for ultrasound imaging in vitro, pre-clinical studies, and most recently incorporated a variant of PCCAs, namely a microbubble-conjugated microdroplet emulsion, into the first clinical studies. Their properties also make them attractive candidates for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications including drug-delivery, diagnosis and treatment of cancerous and inflammatory diseases, as well as tumor-growth tracking. However, control over the thermal and acoustic stability of PCCAs both in vivo and in vitro has remained a challenge for expanding the potential utility of these agents in novel clinical applications. As such, our objective was to determine the stabilizing effects of layer-by-layer assemblies and its effect on both thermal and acoustic stability. METHODS We utilized layer-by-layer (LBL) assemblies to coat the outer PCCA membrane and characterized layering by measuring zeta potential and particle size. Stability studies were conducted by; 1) incubating the LBL-PCCAs at atmospheric pressure at 37∘C and 45∘C followed by; 2) ultrasound-mediated activation at 7.24 MHz and peak-negative pressures ranging from 0.71 - 5.48 MPa to ascertain nanodroplet activation and resultant microbubble persistence. The thermal and acoustic properties of decafluorobutane gas-condensed nanodroplets (DFB-NDs) layered with 6 and 10 layers of charge-alternating biopolymers, (LBL6NDs and LBL10NDs) respectively, were studied and compared to non-layered DFB-NDs. Half-life determinations were conducted at both 37∘C and 45∘C with acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) measurements occurring at 23∘C. DISCUSSION Successful application of up to 10 layers of alternating positive and negatively charged biopolymers onto the surface membrane of DFB-NDs was demonstrated. Two major claims were substantiated in this study; namely, (1) biopolymeric layering of DFB-NDs imparts a thermal stability up to an extent; and, (2) both LBL6NDs and LBL10NDs did not appear to alter particle acoustic vaporization thresholds, suggesting that the thermal stability of the particle may not necessarily be coupled with particle acoustic vaporization thresholds. CONCLUSION Results demonstrate that the layered PCCAs had higher thermal stability, where the half-lifes of the LBLxNDs are significantly increased after incubation at 37∘C and 45∘C. Furthermore, the acoustic vaporization profiles the DFB-NDs, LBL6NDs, and LBL10NDs show that there is no statistically significant difference between the acoustic vaporization energy required to initiate acoustic droplet vaporization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Enrique Alcaraz
- College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, 1630 E University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721 United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719 United States; Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. 85719 United States
| | - Skylar J Davidson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719 United States
| | - Evan Shreeve
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719 United States
| | - Rainee Meuschke
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719 United States
| | - Marek Romanowski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719 United States; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719 United States
| | - Russell S Witte
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719 United States; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719 United States; Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. 85719 United States
| | - Thomas R Porter
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Terry O Matsunaga
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719 United States; Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. 85719 United States.
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Welch PJ, Li DS, Forest CR, Pozzo LD, Shi C. Perfluorocarbon nanodroplet size, acoustic vaporization, and inertial cavitation affected by lipid shell composition in vitro. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 152:2493. [PMID: 36319242 PMCID: PMC9812515 DOI: 10.1121/10.0014934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorocarbon nanodroplets (PFCnDs) are ultrasound contrast agents that phase-transition from liquid nanodroplets to gas microbubbles when activated by laser irradiation or insonated with an ultrasound pulse. The dynamics of PFCnDs can vary drastically depending on the nanodroplet composition, including the lipid shell properties. In this paper, we investigate the effect of varying the ratio of PEGylated to non-PEGylated phospholipids in the outer shell of PFCnDs on the acoustic nanodroplet vaporization (liquid to gas phase transition) and inertial cavitation (rapid collapse of the vaporized nanodroplets) dynamics in vitro when insonated with focused ultrasound. Nanodroplets with a high concentration of PEGylated lipids had larger diameters and exhibited greater variance in size distribution compared to nanodroplets with lower proportions of PEGylated lipids in the lipid shell. PFCnDs with a lipid shell composed of 50:50 PEGylated to non-PEGylated lipids yielded the highest B-mode image intensity and duration, as well as the greatest pressure difference between acoustic droplet vaporization onset and inertial cavitation onset. We demonstrate that slight changes in lipid shell composition of PFCnDs can significantly impact droplet phase transitioning and inertial cavitation dynamics. These findings can help guide researchers to fabricate PFCnDs with optimized compositions for their specific applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe J Welch
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | | | - Craig R Forest
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Lilo D Pozzo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Chengzhi Shi
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
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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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Burgess MT, Aliabouzar M, Aguilar C, Fabiilli ML, Ketterling JA. Slow-Flow Ultrasound Localization Microscopy Using Recondensation of Perfluoropentane Nanodroplets. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2022; 48:743-759. [PMID: 35125244 PMCID: PMC8983467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) is an emerging, super-resolution imaging technique for detailed mapping of the microvascular structure and flow velocity via subwavelength localization and tracking of microbubbles. Because microbubbles rely on blood flow for movement throughout the vascular space, acquisition times can be long in the smallest, low-flow microvessels. In addition, detection of microbubbles in low-flow regions can be difficult because of minimal separation of microbubble signal from tissue. Nanoscale, phase-change contrast agents (PCCAs) have emerged as a switchable, intermittent or persisting contrast agent for ULM via acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV). Here, the focus is on characterizing the spatiotemporal contrast properties of less volatile perfluoropentane (PFP) PCCAs. The results indicate that at physiological temperature, nanoscale PFP PCCAs with diameters less than 100 nm disappear within microseconds after ADV with high-frequency ultrasound (16 MHz, 5- to 6-MPa peak negative pressure) and that nanoscale PFP PCCAs have an inherent deactivation mechanism via immediate recondensation after ADV. This "blinking" on-and-off contrast signal allowed separation of flow in an in vitro flow phantom, regardless of flow conditions, although with a need for some replenishment at very low flow conditions to maintain count rate. This blinking behavior allows for rapid spatial mapping in areas of low or no flow with ULM, but limits velocity tracking because there is no stable bubble formation with nanoscale PFP PCCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark T Burgess
- Lizzi Center for Biomedical Engineering, Riverside Research, New York, New York, USA.
| | - Mitra Aliabouzar
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Christian Aguilar
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mario L Fabiilli
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Ketterling
- Lizzi Center for Biomedical Engineering, Riverside Research, New York, New York, USA
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9
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Mitcham TM, Nevozhay D, Chen Y, Nguyen LD, Pinton GF, Lai SY, Sokolov KV, Bouchard RR. Effect of Perfluorocarbon Composition on Activation of Phase-Changing Ultrasound Contrast Agents. Med Phys 2022; 49:2212-2219. [PMID: 35195908 PMCID: PMC9041204 DOI: 10.1002/mp.15564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While microbubble contrast agents (MCAs) are commonly used in ultrasound (US), they are inherently limited to vascular targets due to their size. Alternatively, phase‐changing nanodroplet contrast agents (PNCAs) can be delivered as nanoscale agents (i.e., small enough to extravasate), but when exposed to a US field of sufficient mechanical index (MI), they convert to MCAs, which can be visualized with high contrast using nonlinear US. Purpose To investigate the effect of perfluorocarbon (PFC) core composition and presence of cholesterol in particle coatings on stability and image contrast generated from acoustic activation of PNCAs using high‐frequency US suitable for clinical imaging. Methods PNCAs with varied core compositions (i.e., mixtures of perfluoropentane [C5] and/or perfluorohexane [C6]) and two coating formulations (i.e., with and without cholesterol) were characterized and investigated for thermal/temporal stability and postactivation, nonlinear US contrast in phantom and in vivo environments. Through hydrophone measurements and nonlinear numerical modeling, MI was estimated for pulse sequences used for PNCA activation. Results All PNCA compositions were characterized to have similar diameters (249–267 nm) and polydispersity (0.151–0.185) following fabrication. While PNCAs with majority C5 core composition showed higher levels of spontaneous signal (i.e., not due to US activation) in phantoms than C6‐majority PNCAs, all compositions were stable during imaging experiments. When activating PNCAs with a 12.3‐MHz US pulse (MI = 1.1), C6‐core particles with cholesterol‐free coatings (i.e., CF‐C6‐100 particles) generated a median contrast of 3.1, which was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than other formulations. Further, CF‐C6‐100 particles were activated in a murine model, generating US contrast ≥3.4. Conclusion C6‐core PNCAs can provide high‐contrast US imaging with minimal nonspecific activation in phantom and in vivo environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor M Mitcham
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dmitry Nevozhay
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yunyun Chen
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Linh D Nguyen
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gianmarco F Pinton
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stephen Y Lai
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Konstantin V Sokolov
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Richard R Bouchard
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
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10
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Sjöstrand S, Evertsson M, Atile E, Andersson R, Svensson I, Cinthio M, Jansson T. Displacement Patterns in Magnetomotive Ultrasound Explored by Finite Element Analysis. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2022; 48:333-345. [PMID: 34802840 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Magnetomotive ultrasound is an emerging technique that enables detection of magnetic nanoparticles. This has implications for ultrasound molecular imaging, and potentially addresses clinical needs regarding determination of metastatic infiltration of the lymphatic system. Contrast is achieved by a time-varying magnetic field that sets nanoparticle-laden regions in motion. This motion is governed by vector-valued mechanical and magnetic forces. Understanding how these forces contribute to observed displacement patterns is important for the interpretation of magnetomotive ultrasound images. Previous studies have captured motion adjacent to nanoparticle-laden regions that was attributed to diamagnetism. While diamagnetism could give rise to a force, it cannot fully account for the observed displacements in magnetomotive ultrasound. To isolate explanatory variables of the observed displacements, a finite element model is set up. Using this model, we explore potential causes of the unexplained motion by comparing numerical models with earlier experimental findings. The simulations reveal motion outside particle-laden regions that could be attributed to mechanical coupling and the principle of mass conservation. These factors produced a motion that counterbalanced the time-varying magnetic excitation, and whose extent and distribution was affected by boundary conditions as well as compressibility and stiffness of the surroundings. Our findings emphasize the importance of accounting for the vector-valued magnetic force in magnetomotive ultrasound imaging. In an axisymmetric geometry, that force can be represented by a simple scalar expression, an oversimplification that rapidly becomes inaccurate with distance from the symmetry axis. Additionally, it results in an underestimation of the vertical force component by up to 30%. We therefore recommend using the full vector-valued force to capture the magnetic interaction. This study enhances our understanding of how forces govern magnetic nanoparticle displacement in tissue, contributing to accurate analysis and interpretation of magnetomotive ultrasound imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Sjöstrand
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria Evertsson
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Esayas Atile
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Roger Andersson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Svensson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Magnus Cinthio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tomas Jansson
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Clinical Engineering Skåne, Digitalisering IT/MT, Skåne Regional Council, Lund, Sweden.
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11
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Lea-Banks H, Hynynen K. Sub-millimetre precision of drug delivery in the brain from ultrasound-triggered nanodroplets. J Control Release 2021; 338:731-741. [PMID: 34530050 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Drug-loaded nanoscale cavitation agents, called nanodroplets, are an attractive solution to enhance and localize drug delivery, offering increased stability and prolonged half-life in circulation compared to microbubbles. However, the spatial precision with which drug can be released and delivered into brain tissue from such agents has not been directly mapped. Decafluorobutane lipid-shell droplets (206 +/- 6 nm) were loaded with a fluorescent blood-brain barrier (BBB)-penetrating dye (Nile Blue) and vaporized with ultrasound (1.66 MHz, 10 ms pulse length, 1 Hz pulse repetition frequency), generating transient echogenic microbubbles and delivering the encapsulated dye. The distribution and intensity of released fluorophore was mapped in a tissue-mimicking phantom, and in the brain of rats (Sprague Dawley, N = 4, n = 16). The release and distribution of dye was found to be pressure-dependent (0.2-3.5 MPa) and to occur only above the vaporization threshold of the nanodroplets (1.5 +/- 0.25 MPa in vitro, 2.4 +/- 0.05 MPa in vivo). Dye delivery was achieved with sub-millimetre spatial precision, covering an area of 0.4 to 1.5 mm in diameter, determined by the sonication pressure. The distribution and intensity of dye released at depth in the brain followed the axial pressure profile of the ultrasound beam. Nile Blue (354 Da, LogP 2.7) was compared to Nile Red (318 Da, LogP 3.8) and Quantum Dots (CdSe/ZnS, 5 nm diameter) to visualize the role of molecule size and lipophilicity in crossing the intact BBB following triggered release. Acoustic emissions were shown to predict the successful delivery of the BBB-penetrating dye and the extent of the distribution, demonstrating the theranostic capabilities of nanoscale droplets to precisely localize drug delivery in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Lea-Banks
- 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 Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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12
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Snipstad S, Vikedal K, Maardalen M, Kurbatskaya A, Sulheim E, Davies CDL. Ultrasound and microbubbles to beat barriers in tumors: Improving delivery of nanomedicine. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 177:113847. [PMID: 34182018 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Successful delivery of drugs and nanomedicine to tumors requires a functional vascular network, extravasation across the capillary wall, penetration through the extracellular matrix, and cellular uptake. Nanomedicine has many merits, but penetration deep into the tumor interstitium remains a challenge. Failure of cancer treatment can be caused by insufficient delivery of the therapeutic agents. After intravenous administration, nanomedicines are often found in off-target organs and the tumor extracellular matrix close to the capillary wall. With circulating microbubbles, ultrasound exposure focused toward the tumor shows great promise in improving the delivery of therapeutic agents. In this review, we address the impact of focused ultrasound and microbubbles to overcome barriers for drug delivery such as perfusion, extravasation, and transport through the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, we discuss the induction of an immune response with ultrasound and delivery of immunotherapeutics. The review discusses mainly preclinical results and ends with a summary of ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Snipstad
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, SINTEF Industry, Trondheim, Norway; Cancer Clinic, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Krister Vikedal
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Matilde Maardalen
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Anna Kurbatskaya
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Einar Sulheim
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, SINTEF Industry, Trondheim, Norway
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13
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Snipstad S, Hanstad S, Bjørkøy A, Mørch Ý, de Lange Davies C. Sonoporation Using Nanoparticle-Loaded Microbubbles Increases Cellular Uptake of Nanoparticles Compared to Co-Incubation of Nanoparticles and Microbubbles. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:640. [PMID: 33946327 PMCID: PMC8146007 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13050640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic agents can benefit from encapsulation in nanoparticles, due to improved pharmacokinetics and biodistribution, protection from degradation, increased cellular uptake and sustained release. Microbubbles in combination with ultrasound have been shown to improve the delivery of nanoparticles and drugs to tumors and across the blood-brain barrier. Here, we evaluate two different microbubbles for enhancing the delivery of polymeric nanoparticles to cells in vitro: a commercially available lipid microbubble (Sonazoid) and a microbubble with a shell composed of protein and nanoparticles. Various ultrasound parameters are applied and confocal microscopy is employed to image cellular uptake. Ultrasound enhanced cellular uptake depending on the pressure and duty cycle. The responsible mechanisms are probably sonoporation and sonoprinting, followed by uptake, and to a smaller degree enhanced endocytosis. The use of commercial Sonazoid microbubbles leads to significantly lower uptake than when using nanoparticle-loaded microbubbles, suggesting that proximity between cells, nanoparticles and microbubbles is important, and that mainly nanoparticles in the shell are taken up, rather than free nanoparticles in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Snipstad
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim, Norway; (S.H.); (A.B.); (C.d.L.D.)
- Department of Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, SINTEF Industry, Sem Sælandsvei 2A, 7034 Trondheim, Norway;
- Cancer Clinic, St. Olav’s Hospital, Prinsesse Kristinas Gate 1, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sigurd Hanstad
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim, Norway; (S.H.); (A.B.); (C.d.L.D.)
| | - Astrid Bjørkøy
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim, Norway; (S.H.); (A.B.); (C.d.L.D.)
| | - Ýrr Mørch
- Department of Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, SINTEF Industry, Sem Sælandsvei 2A, 7034 Trondheim, Norway;
| | - Catharina de Lange Davies
- Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim, Norway; (S.H.); (A.B.); (C.d.L.D.)
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14
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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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15
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Sjöstrand S, Evertsson M, Jansson T. Magnetomotive Ultrasound Imaging Systems: Basic Principles and First Applications. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:2636-2650. [PMID: 32753288 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This review discusses magnetomotive ultrasound, which is an emerging technique that uses superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as a contrast agent. The key advantage of using nanoparticle-based contrast agents is their ability to reach extravascular targets, whereas commercial contrast agents for ultrasound comprise microbubbles confined to the blood stream. This also extends possibilities for molecular imaging, where the contrast agent is labeled with specific targeting molecules (e.g., antibodies) so that pathologic tissue may be visualized directly. The principle of action is that an external time-varying magnetic field acts to displace the nanoparticles lodged in tissue and thereby their immediate surrounding. This movement is then detected with ultrasound using frequency- or time-domain analysis of echo data. As a contrast agent already approved for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by the US Food and Drug Administration, there is a shorter path to clinical translation, although safety studies of magnetomotion are necessary, especially if particle design is altered to affect biodistribution or signal strength. The external modulated magnetic field may be generated by electromagnets, permanent magnets, or a combination of the two. The induced nanoparticle motion may also reveal mechanical material properties of tissue, healthy or diseased, one of several interesting potential future aspects of the technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Sjöstrand
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria Evertsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund/Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tomas Jansson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund/Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Clinical Engineering Skåne, Digitalisering IT/MT, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden.
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16
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Helfield BL, Yoo K, Liu J, Williams R, Sheeran PS, Goertz DE, Burns PN. Investigating the Accumulation of Submicron Phase-Change Droplets in Tumors. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:2861-2870. [PMID: 32732167 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Submicron phase-change droplets are an emerging class of ultrasound contrast agent. Compared with microbubbles, their relatively small size and increased stability offer the potential to passively extravasate and accumulate in solid tumors through the enhanced permeability and retention effect. Under exposure to sufficiently powerful ultrasound, these droplets can convert into in situ gas microbubbles and thus be used as an extravascular-specific contrast agent. However, in vivo imaging methods to detect extravasated droplets have yet to be established. Here, we develop an ultrasound imaging pulse sequence within diagnostic safety limits to selectively detect droplet extravasation in tumors. Tumor-bearing mice were injected with submicron perfluorobutane droplets and interrogated with our imaging-vaporization-imaging sequence. By use of a pulse subtraction method, median droplet extravasation signal relative to the total signal within the tumor was estimated to be Etumor=37±5% compared with the kidney Ekidney=-2±8% (p < 0.001). This work contributes toward the advancement of volatile phase-shift droplets as a next-generation ultrasound agent for imaging and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon L Helfield
- Department of Physics, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Kimoon Yoo
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jingjing Liu
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ross Williams
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Paul S Sheeran
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - David E Goertz
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Peter N Burns
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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17
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Xu Y, Lu Q, Sun L, Feng S, Nie Y, Ning X, Lu M. Nanosized Phase-Changeable "Sonocyte" for Promoting Ultrasound Assessment. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e2002950. [PMID: 32697421 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202002950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite the ability of microbubble contrast agents to improve ultrasound diagnostic performance, their application potential is limited due to low stability, fast clearance, and poor tissue permeation. This study presents a promising nanosized phase-changeable erythrocyte (Sonocyte), composed of liposomal dodecafluoropentane coated with multilayered red blood cell membranes (RBCm), for improving ultrasound assessments. Sonocyte is the first RBCm-functionalized ultrasound contrast agent with uniform nanosized morphology, and exhibits good stability, systemic circulation, target-tissue accumulation, and even ultrasound-responsive phase transition, thereby satisfying the inherent requirement of ultrasound imaging. It is identified that Sonocyte displays similar sensitivity as microbubble SonoVue, a clinical ultrasound contrast agent, for effectively detecting normal parenchyma and hepatic necrosis. Importantly, compared with SonoVue lacking of ability to detect tumors, Sonocyte can identify tumors with high sensitivity and specificity due to superior tumor accumulation and penetration. Therefore, Sonocyte exhibits superior capabilities over SonoVue, endowing with a great clinical application potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurui Xu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Qiangbing Lu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Lei Sun
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Shujun Feng
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Yuanyuan Nie
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Xinghai Ning
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Minghui Lu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
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18
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Xu T, Cui Z, Li D, Cao F, Xu J, Zong Y, Wang S, Bouakaz A, Wan M, Zhang S. Cavitation characteristics of flowing low and high boiling-point perfluorocarbon phase-shift nanodroplets during focused ultrasound exposures. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2020; 65:105060. [PMID: 32199255 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2020.105060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This work investigated and compared the dynamic cavitation characteristics between low and high boiling-point phase-shift nanodroplets (NDs) under physiologically relevant flow conditions during focused ultrasound (FUS) exposures at different peak rarefactional pressures. A passive cavitation detection (PCD) system was used to monitor cavitation activity during FUS exposure at various acoustic pressure levels. Root mean square (RMS) amplitudes of broadband noise, spectrograms of the passive cavitation detection signals, and normalized inertial cavitation dose (ICD) values were calculated. Cavitation activity of low-boiling-point perfluoropentane (PFP) NDs and high boiling-point perfluorohexane (PFH) NDs flowing at in vitro mean velocities of 0-15 cm/s were compared in a 4-mm diameter wall-less vessel in a transparent tissue-mimicking phantom. In the static state, both types of phase-shift NDs exhibit a sharp rise in cavitation intensity during initial FUS exposure. Under flow conditions, cavitation activity of the PFH NDs reached the steady state less rapidly compared to PFP NDs under the lower acoustic pressure (1.35 MPa); at the higher acoustic pressure (1.65 MPa), the RMS amplitude increased more sharply during the initial FUS exposure period. In particular, the RMS-time curves of the PFP NDs shifted upward as the mean flow velocity increased from 0 to 15 cm/s; the RMS amplitude of the PFH ND solution increased from 0 to 10 cm/s and decreased at 15 cm/s. Moreover, amplitudes of the echo signal for the low boiling-point PFP NDs were higher compared to the high boiling-point PFH NDs in the lower frequency range, whereas the inverse occurred in the higher frequency range. Both PFP and PFH NDs showed increased cavitation activity in the higher frequency under the flow condition compared to the static state, especially PFH NDs. At 1.65 MPa, normalized ICD values for PFH increased from 0.93 ± 0.03 to 0.96 ± 0.04 and from 0 to 10 cm/s, then decreased to 0.86 ± 0.05 at 15 cm/s. This work contributes to our further understanding of cavitation characteristics of phase-shift NDs under physiologically relevant flow conditions during FUS exposure. In addition, the results provide a reference for selecting suitable phase-shift NDs to enhance the efficiency of cavitation-mediated ultrasonic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiwei Cui
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Dapeng Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangyuan Cao
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Jichen Xu
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Laboratory for Visual Information Processing and Applications, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujin Zong
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Supin Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Mingxi Wan
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China.
| | - Siyuan Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China.
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19
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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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20
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Yarmoska SK, Yoon H, Emelianov SY. Lipid Shell Composition Plays a Critical Role in the Stable Size Reduction of Perfluorocarbon Nanodroplets. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2019; 45:1489-1499. [PMID: 30975536 PMCID: PMC6491255 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorocarbon nanodroplets (PFCnDs) are phase-change contrast agents that have the potential to enable extravascular contrast-enhanced ultrasound and photoacoustic (US/PA) imaging. Producing consistently small, monodisperse PFCnDs remains a challenge without resorting to technically challenging methods. We investigated the impact of variable shell composition on PFCnD size and US/PA image properties. Our results suggest that increasing the molar percentage of PEGylated lipid reduces the size and size variance of PFCnDs. Furthermore, our imaging studies revealed that nanodroplets with more PEGylated lipids produce increased US/PA signal compared with those with the standard formulation. Finally, we highlight the ability of this approach to facilitate US/PA imaging in a murine model of breast cancer. These data indicate that, through a facile synthesis process, it is possible to produce monodisperse, small-sized PFCnDs. Novel in their simplicity, these methods may promote the use of PFCnDs among a broader user base to study a variety of extravascular phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven K Yarmoska
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Heechul Yoon
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Stanislav Y Emelianov
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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21
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Rehman T, Khirallah J, Demirel E, Howell J, Vlaisavljevich E, Yuksel Durmaz Y. Development of Acoustically Active Nanocones Using the Host-Guest Interaction as a New Histotripsy Agent. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:4176-4184. [PMID: 31459627 PMCID: PMC6649115 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b02922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Histotripsy is a noninvasive and nonthermal ultrasound ablation technique, which mechanically ablates the tissues using very short, focused, high-pressured ultrasound pulses to generate dense cavitating bubble cloud. Histotripsy requires large negative pressures (≥28 MPa) to generate cavitation in the target tissue, guided by real-time ultrasound imaging guidance. The high cavitation threshold and reliance on real-time image guidance are potential limitations of histotripsy, particularly for the treatment of multifocal or metastatic cancers. To address these potential limitations, we have recently developed nanoparticle-mediated histotripsy (NMH) where perfluorocarbon (PFC)-filled nanodroplets (NDs) with the size of ∼200 nm were used as cavitation nuclei for histotripsy, as they are able to significantly lower the cavitation threshold. However, although NDs were shown to be an effective histotripsy agent, they pose several issues. Their generation requires multistep synthesis, they lack long-term stability, and determination of PFC concentration in the treatment dose is not possible. In this study, PFC-filled nanocones (NCs) were developed as a new generation of histotripsy agents to address the mentioned limitations of NDs. The developed NCs represent an inclusion complex of methylated β-cyclodextrin as a water-soluble analog of β-cyclodextrin and perfluorohexane (PFH) as more effective PFC derivatives for histotripsy. Results showed that NCs are easy to produce, biocompatible, have a size <50 nm, and have a quantitative complexation that allows us to directly calculate the PFH amount in the used NC dose. Results further demonstrated that NCs embedded into tissue-mimicking phantoms generated histotripsy cavitation "bubble clouds" at a significantly lower transducer amplitude compared to control phantoms, demonstrating the ability of NCs to function as effective histotripsy agents for NMH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanzeel
Ur Rehman
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Natural
Sciences, and Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul 34810, Turkey
| | - Jennifer Khirallah
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061, United States
| | - Erhan Demirel
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Natural
Sciences, and Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul 34810, Turkey
| | - Justin Howell
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061, United States
| | - Eli Vlaisavljevich
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061, United States
- E-mail: (E.V.)
| | - Yasemin Yuksel Durmaz
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Natural
Sciences, and Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center (REMER), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul 34810, Turkey
- E-mail: (Y.Y.D.)
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