1
|
Gattegno R, Arbel L, Riess N, Shinar H, Katz S, Ilovitsh T. Enhanced capillary delivery with nanobubble-mediated blood-brain barrier opening and advanced high resolution vascular segmentation. J Control Release 2024; 369:506-516. [PMID: 38575074 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.04.001] [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] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Overcoming the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is essential to enhance brain therapy. Here, we utilized nanobubbles with focused ultrasound for targeted and improved BBB opening in mice. A microscopy technique method assessed BBB opening at a single blood vessel resolution employing a dual-dye labeling technique using green fluorescent molecules to label blood vessels and Evans blue brain-impermeable dye for quantifying BBB extravasation. A deep learning architecture enabled blood vessels segmentation, delivering comparable accuracy to manual segmentation with a significant time reduction. Segmentation outcomes were applied to the Evans blue channel to quantify extravasation of each blood vessel. Results were compared to microbubble-mediated BBB opening, where reduced extravasation was observed in capillaries with a diameter of 2-6 μm. In comparison, nanobubbles yield an improved opening in these capillaries, and equivalent efficacy to that of microbubbles in larger vessels. These results indicate the potential of nanobubbles to serve as enhanced agents for BBB opening, amplifying bioeffects in capillaries while preserving comparable opening in larger vessels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roni Gattegno
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Lilach Arbel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Noa Riess
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hila Shinar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sharon Katz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tali Ilovitsh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Martinez PJ, Song JJ, Castillo J, DeSisto J, Song KH, Green AL, Borden M. Effect of Microbubble Size, Composition and Multiple Sonication Points on Sterile Inflammatory Response in Focused Ultrasound-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Opening. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.28.591538. [PMID: 38746278 PMCID: PMC11092473 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.28.591538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier opening (BBBO) using focused ultrasound (FUS) and microbubbles (MBs) has emerged as a promising technique for delivering therapeutics to the brain. However, the influence of various FUS and MB parameters on BBBO and subsequent sterile inflammatory response (SIR) remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of MB size and composition, as well as the number of FUS sonication points, on BBBO and SIR in an immunocompetent mouse model. Using MRI-guided MB+FUS, we targeted the striatum and assessed extravasation of an MRI contrast agent to assess BBBO and RNAseq to assess SIR. Our results revealed distinct effects of these parameters on BBBO and SIR. Specifically, at a matched microbubble volume dose (MVD), MB size did not affect the extent of BBBO, but smaller (1 μm diameter) MBs exhibited a lower classification of SIR than larger (3 or 5 μm diameter) MBs. Lipid-shelled microbubbles exhibited greater BBBO and a more pronounced SIR compared to albumin-shelled microbubbles, likely owing to the latter's poor in vivo stability. As expected, increasing the number of sonication points resulted in greater BBBO and SIR. Furthermore, correlation analysis revealed strong associations between passive cavitation detection measurements of harmonic and inertial MB echoes, BBBO and the expression of SIR gene sets. Our findings highlight the critical role of MB and FUS parameters in modulating BBBO and subsequent SIR in the brain. These insights inform the development of targeted drug delivery strategies and the mitigation of adverse inflammatory reactions in neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Payton J. Martinez
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
| | - Jane J. Song
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
| | - Jair Castillo
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
| | - John DeSisto
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora CO 80045, United States
| | - Kang-Ho Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
| | - Adam L. Green
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora CO 80045, United States
| | - Mark Borden
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Memari E, Khan D, Alkins R, Helfield B. Focused ultrasound-assisted delivery of immunomodulating agents in brain cancer. J Control Release 2024; 367:283-299. [PMID: 38266715 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.01.034] [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] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound (FUS) combined with intravascularly circulating microbubbles can transiently increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to enable targeted therapeutic delivery to the brain, the clinical testing of which is currently underway in both adult and pediatric patients. Aside from traditional cancer drugs, this technique is being extended to promote the delivery of immunomodulating therapeutics to the brain, including antibodies, immune cells, and cytokines. In this manner, FUS approaches are being explored as a tool to improve and amplify the effectiveness of immunotherapy for both primary and metastatic brain cancer, a particularly challenging solid tumor to treat. Here, we present an overview of the latest groundbreaking research in FUS-assisted delivery of immunomodulating agents to the brain in pre-clinical models of brain cancer, and place it within the context of the current immunotherapy approaches. We follow this up with a discussion on new developments and emerging strategies for this rapidly evolving approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elahe Memari
- Department of Physics, Concordia University, Montreal H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Dure Khan
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Ryan Alkins
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Brandon Helfield
- Department of Physics, Concordia University, Montreal H4B 1R6, Canada; Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal H4B 1R6, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nittayacharn P, Abenojar E, Cooley MB, Berg FM, Counil C, Sojahrood AJ, Khan MS, Yang C, Berndl E, Golczak M, Kolios MC, Exner AA. Efficient ultrasound-mediated drug delivery to orthotopic liver tumors - Direct comparison of doxorubicin-loaded nanobubbles and microbubbles. J Control Release 2024; 367:135-147. [PMID: 38237687 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.01.028] [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] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Liver metastasis is a major obstacle in treating aggressive cancers, and current therapeutic options often prove insufficient. To overcome these challenges, there has been growing interest in ultrasound-mediated drug delivery using lipid-shelled microbubbles (MBs) and nanobubbles (NBs) as promising strategies for enhancing drug delivery to tumors. Our previous work demonstrated the potential of Doxorubicin-loaded C3F8 NBs (hDox-NB, 280 ± 123 nm) in improving cancer treatment in vitro using low-frequency unfocused therapeutic ultrasound (TUS). In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of sonicated hDox-NBs in orthotopic rat liver tumors. We compared their delivery and therapeutic efficiency with size-isolated MBs (hDox-MB, 1104 ± 373 nm) made from identical shell material and core gas. Results showed a similar accumulation of hDox in tumors treated with hDox-MBs and unfocused therapeutic ultrasound (hDox-MB + TUS) and hDox-NB + TUS. However, significantly increased apoptotic cell death in the tumor and fewer off-target apoptotic cells in the normal liver were found upon the treatment with hDox-NB + TUS. The tumor-to-liver apoptotic ratio was elevated 9.4-fold following treatment with hDox-NB + TUS compared to hDox-MB + TUS, suggesting that the therapeutic efficacy and specificity are significantly increased when using hDox-NB + TUS. These findings highlight the potential of this approach as a viable treatment modality for liver tumors. By elucidating the behavior of drug-loaded bubbles in vivo, we aim to contribute to developing more effective liver cancer treatments that could ultimately improve patient outcomes and decrease off-target side effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pinunta Nittayacharn
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Puttamonthon, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand
| | - Eric Abenojar
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Michaela B Cooley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Felipe M Berg
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Claire Counil
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Amin Jafari Sojahrood
- Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, 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, Canada
| | - Muhammad Saad Khan
- Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, 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, Canada
| | - Celina Yang
- Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, 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, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Berndl
- Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, 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, Canada
| | - Marcin Golczak
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Michael C Kolios
- Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, 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, Canada
| | - Agata A Exner
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Martinez PJ, Green AL, Borden MA. Targeting diffuse midline gliomas: The promise of focused ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier opening. J Control Release 2024; 365:412-421. [PMID: 38000663 PMCID: PMC10842695 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.11.037] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs), including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, have among the highest mortality rates of all childhood cancers, despite recent advancements in cancer therapeutics. This is partly because, unlike some CNS tumors, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) of DMG tumor vessels remains intact. The BBB prevents the permeation of many molecular therapies into the brain parenchyma, where the cancer cells reside. Focused ultrasound (FUS) with microbubbles has recently emerged as an innovative and exciting technology that non-invasively permeabilizes the BBB in a small focal region with millimeter precision. In this review, current treatment methods and biological barriers to treating DMGs are discussed. State-of-the-art FUS-mediated BBB opening is then examined, with a focus on the effects of various ultrasound parameters and the treatment of DMGs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Payton J Martinez
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, United States; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, United States.
| | - Adam L Green
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, United States
| | - Mark A Borden
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, United States; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Martinez P, Song JJ, Garay FG, Song KH, Mufford T, Steiner J, DeSisto J, Ellens N, Serkova NJ, Green AL, Borden M. Comprehensive Assessment of Blood-Brain Barrier Opening and Sterile Inflammatory Response: Unraveling the Therapeutic Window. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.23.563613. [PMID: 37961395 PMCID: PMC10634745 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.23.563613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Microbubbles (MBs) combined with focused ultrasound (FUS) have emerged as a promising noninvasive technique to permeabilize the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for drug delivery to the brain. However, the safety and biological consequences of BBB opening remain incompletely understood. This study investigates the effects of varying microbubble volume doses (MVD) and ultrasound mechanical indices (MI) on BBB opening and the sterile inflammatory response (SIR) using high-resolution ultra-high field MRI-guided FUS in mouse brains. The results demonstrate that both MVD and MI significantly influence the extent of BBB opening, with higher doses and mechanical indices leading to increased permeability. Moreover, RNA sequencing reveals upregulated inflammatory pathways and immune cell infiltration after BBB opening, suggesting the presence and extent of SIR. Gene set enrichment analysis identifies 12 gene sets associated with inflammatory responses that are upregulated at higher doses of MVD or MI. A therapeutic window is established between significant BBB opening and the onset of SIR, providing operating regimes for avoiding each three classes of increasing damage from stimulation of the NFκB pathway via TNFL signaling to apoptosis. This study contributes to the optimization and standardization of BBB opening parameters for safe and effective drug delivery to the brain and sheds light on the underlying molecular mechanisms of the sterile inflammatory response. Significance Statement The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive investigation of microbubble-facilitated focused ultrasound for blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening. By systematically exploring various combinations of microbubble volume doses and ultrasound mechanical indices, the study reveals their direct impact on the extent of BBB permeability and the induction of sterile inflammatory response (SIR). The establishment of a therapeutic window between significant BBB opening and the onset of SIR provides critical insights for safe and targeted drug delivery to the brain. These findings advance our understanding of the biological consequences of BBB opening and contribute to optimizing parameters for clinical applications, thus minimizing potential health risks, and maximizing the therapeutic potential of this technique.
Collapse
|
7
|
Pellow C, Li S, Delgado S, Pike GB, Curiel L, Pichardo S. Biaxial ultrasound driving technique for small animal blood-brain barrier opening. Phys Med Biol 2023; 68:195006. [PMID: 37607563 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/acf2e3] [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: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Biaxial driving can more efficiently convert electrical power to forward acoustic power in piezoelectric materials, and the interaction between the orthogonal electric fields can produce a combination of extensional and shear deformations as a function of the phase difference between them to allow dynamic steering of the beam with a single-element. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time the application of a single-element biaxially driven ring transducerin vivofor blood-brain barrier opening in mice, and compare it to that achieved with a conventional single-element highly focused (F# = 0.7) spherical transducer operating at a similar frequency. Transcranial focused ultrasound (0.45 MPa, 10 ms pulse length, 1 Hz repetition frequency, 30 s duration) was applied bilaterally to mice with a 40μl/kg bolus of DefinityTMmicrobubbles, employing either a single-element biaxial ring (1.482 MHz, 10 mm inner diameter, 13.75 mm outer diameter) or spherical (1.5 MHz, 35 mm diameter, F# = 0.7; RK50, FUS Instruments) transducer on each side. Follow-up MRI scans (T1 pre- and post- 0.2 mmol/kg Gd injection, T2) were acquired to assess blood-brain barrier opening volume and potential damage. Compared to blood-brain barrier opening achieved with a conventional single-element spherical focused transducer, the opening volume achieved with a single-element biaxial ring transducer was 35% smaller (p= 0.002) with a device of a ring diameter of 40% the aperture size. Axial refocusing was further demonstrated with the single-element biaxial ring transducer, yielding a 1.63 mm deeper, five-fold larger opening volume (p= 0.048) relative to its small-focus mode. The biaxial ring transducer achieved a more localized opening compared to the spherical focused transducer under the same parameters, and further enabled dynamic axial refocusing with a single-element transducer with a smaller fabrication footprint.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carly Pellow
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Siyun Li
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sagid Delgado
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - G Bruce Pike
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Laura Curiel
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Samuel Pichardo
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mondou P, Mériaux S, Nageotte F, Vappou J, Novell A, Larrat B. State of the art on microbubble cavitation monitoring and feedback control for blood-brain-barrier opening using focused ultrasound. Phys Med Biol 2023; 68:18TR03. [PMID: 37369229 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ace23e] [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] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a non-invasive and highly promising method for targeted and reversible blood-brain barrier permeabilization. Numerous preclinical studies aim to optimize the localized delivery of drugs using this method in rodents and non-human primates. Several clinical trials have been initiated to treat various brain diseases in humans using simultaneous BBB permeabilization and drug injection. This review presents the state of the art ofin vitroandin vivocavitation control algorithms for BBB permeabilization using microbubbles (MB) and FUS. Firstly, we describe the different cavitation states, their physical significance in terms of MB behavior and their translation into the spectral composition of the backscattered signal. Next, we report the different indexes calculated and used during the ultrasonic monitoring of cavitation. Finally, the differentin vitroandin vivocavitation control strategies described in the literature are presented and compared.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Mondou
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, ICube, UMR7357, Strasbourg, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Sébastien Mériaux
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Florent Nageotte
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, ICube, UMR7357, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jonathan Vappou
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, ICube, UMR7357, Strasbourg, France
| | - Anthony Novell
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BioMaps, SHFJ, 91401 , Orsay, France
| | - Benoit Larrat
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Katz S, Gattegno R, Peko L, Zarik R, Hagani Y, Ilovitsh T. Diameter-dependent assessment of microvascular leakage following ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier opening. iScience 2023; 26:106965. [PMID: 37378309 PMCID: PMC10291464 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood brain barrier disruption (BBBD) using focused ultrasound (FUS) and microbubbles (MB) is an effective tool for therapeutic delivery to the brain. BBBD depends to a great extent on MB oscillations. Because the brain vasculature is heterogenic in diameter, reduced MB oscillations in smaller blood vessels, together with a lower number of MBs in capillaries, can lead to variations in BBBD. Therefore, evaluating the impact of microvasculature diameter on BBBD is of great importance. We present a method to characterize molecules extravasation following FUS-mediated BBBD, at a single blood vessel resolution. Evans blue (EB) leakage was used as marker for BBBD, whereas blood vessels localization was done using FITC labeled Dextran. Automated image processing pipeline was developed to quantify the extent of extravasation as function of microvasculature diameter, including a wide range of vascular morphological parameters. Variations in MB vibrational response were observed in blood vessel mimicking fibers with varied diameters. Higher peak negative pressures (PNP) were required to initiate stable cavitation in fibers with smaller diameters. In vivo in the treated brains, EB extravasation increased as a function of blood vessel diameter. The percentage of strong BBBD blood vessels increased from 9.75% for 2-3 μm blood vessels to 91.67% for 9-10 μm. Using this method, it is possible to conduct a diameter-dependent analysis that measures vascular leakage resulting from FUS-mediated BBBD at a single blood vessel resolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Katz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Roni Gattegno
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Lea Peko
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Romario Zarik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yulie Hagani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tali Ilovitsh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhu Q, Liu C, Liu L, Li Y. Effect of pulse parameters on ablation efficiency in dual-frequency HIFU therapy. ULTRASONICS 2023; 134:107064. [PMID: 37331052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2023.107064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has now been widely used to ablate various benign and malignant tumors. But it is still critical to increase the ablation efficiency in many clinical applications. Dual-frequency HIFU has been proven to be more efficient in ablation, but the principle on selecting the pulse parameters in this method remains to be explored. In this study, the in vitro lesion areas under different pulse repetition frequencies (PRFs), duty ratios, and frequency differences were compared, cavitation activity was also monitored during HIFU exposure. The results showed that different pulse parameters caused different types of lesions. In HIFU therapy, those pulse parameters that maximize the thermal effect, reduce heat dissipation and generate sufficient cavitation activities should be considered. But the method of evaluating or predicting the damage by using the cavitation dose is only applicable to mechanical damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiaomiao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Chuang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Li Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yanhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Navarro-Becerra JA, Borden MA. Targeted Microbubbles for Drug, Gene, and Cell Delivery in Therapy and Immunotherapy. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1625. [PMID: 37376072 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbubbles are 1-10 μm diameter gas-filled acoustically-active particles, typically stabilized by a phospholipid monolayer shell. Microbubbles can be engineered through bioconjugation of a ligand, drug and/or cell. Since their inception a few decades ago, several targeted microbubble (tMB) formulations have been developed as ultrasound imaging probes and ultrasound-responsive carriers to promote the local delivery and uptake of a wide variety of drugs, genes, and cells in different therapeutic applications. The aim of this review is to summarize the state-of-the-art of current tMB formulations and their ultrasound-targeted delivery applications. We provide an overview of different carriers used to increase drug loading capacity and different targeting strategies that can be used to enhance local delivery, potentiate therapeutic efficacy, and minimize side effects. Additionally, future directions are proposed to improve the tMB performance in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark A Borden
- Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Rasouli R, Paun RA, Tabrizian M. Sonoprinting nanoparticles on cellular spheroids via surface acoustic waves for enhanced nanotherapeutics delivery. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:2091-2105. [PMID: 36942710 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00854h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Nanotherapeutics, on their path to the target tissues, face numerous physicochemical hindrances that affect their therapeutic efficacy. Physical barriers become more pronounced in pathological tissues, such as solid tumors, where they limit the penetration of nanocarriers into deeper regions, thereby preventing the efficient delivery of drug cargo. To address this challenge, we introduce a novel approach that employs surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology to sonoprint and enhance the delivery of nanoparticles onto and into cell spheroids. Our SAW platform is designed to generate focused and unidirectional acoustic waves for creating vigorous acoustic streaming while promoting Bjerknes forces. The effect of SAW excitation on cell viability, as well as the accumulation and penetration of nanoparticles on human breast cancer (MCF 7) and mouse melanoma (YUMM 1.7) cell spheroids were investigated. The high frequency, low input voltage, and contact-free nature of the proposed SAW system ensured over 92% cell viability for both cell lines after SAW exposure. SAW sonoprinting enhanced the accumulation of 100 nm polystyrene particles on the periphery of the spheroids to near four-fold, while the penetration of nanoparticles into the core regions of the spheroids was improved up to three times. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our SAW platform on the efficacy of nanotherapeutics, the platform was used to deliver nanoliposomes encapsulated with the anti-cancer metal compound copper diethyldithiocarbamate (CuET) to MCF 7 and YUMM 1.7 cell spheroids. A three-fold increase in the cytotoxic activity of the drug was observed in spheroids under the effect of SAW, compared to controls. The capacity of SAW-based devices to be manufactured as minuscule wearable patches can offer highly controllable, localized, and continuous acoustic waves to enhance drug delivery efficiency to target tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reza Rasouli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Radu Alexandru Paun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Maryam Tabrizian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Martinez P, Nault G, Steiner J, Wempe MF, Pierce A, Brunt B, Slade M, Mongin A, Song J, Song KH, Ellens N, Serkova N, Green A, Borden M. MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Blood-Brain Barrier Opening Increases Drug Delivery and Efficacy in a Diffuse Midline Glioma Mouse Model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.05.534448. [PMID: 37066205 PMCID: PMC10104021 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.05.534448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is the most common and deadliest pediatric brainstem tumor and is difficult to treat with chemotherapy in part due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Focused ultrasound (FUS) and microbubbles (MBs) have been shown to cause BBB disruption (BBBD), allowing larger chemotherapeutics to enter the parenchyma. Panobinostat is an example of a promising in vitro agent in DIPG with poor clinical efficacy due to low BBB penetrance. In this study, we hypothesized that using FUS to disrupt the BBB allows higher concentrations of panobinostat to accumulate in the tumor, providing a therapeutic effect. Mice were orthotopically injected with a patient-derived DMG cell line, BT-245. MRI was used to guide FUS/MB (1.5 MHz, 0.615 MPa PNP, 1 Hz PRF, 10 ms PL, 3 min treatment time) / (25 µL/kg, IV) targeting to the tumor location. In animals receiving panobinostat (10 mg/kg, IP) in combination with FUS/MB, a 3-fold increase in tumor panobinostat concentration was observed, with only insignificant increase of the drug in the forebrain. In mice receiving three weekly treatments, the combination of panobinostat and FUS/MB led to a 71% reduction of tumor volumes by MRI ( p = 0.01). Furthermore, FUS/MB improved the mean survival from 21 to 31 days ( p < 0.0001). Our study demonstrates that FUS-mediated BBBD can increase the delivery of panobinostat to an orthotopic DMG tumor, providing a strong therapeutic effect and increased survival. One Sentence Summary FUS and microbubbles can increase the delivery of panobinostat to a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) orthotopic DMG tumor, providing a strong therapeutic effect and increased survival.
Collapse
|
14
|
Zhao X, Wright A, Goertz DE. An optical and acoustic investigation of microbubble cavitation in small channels under therapeutic ultrasound conditions. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2023; 93:106291. [PMID: 36640460 PMCID: PMC9852793 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic focused ultrasound in combination with encapsulated microbubbles is being widely investigated for its ability to elicit bioeffects in the microvasculature, such as transient permeabilization for drug delivery or at higher pressures to achieve 'antivascular' effects. While it is well established that the behaviors of microbubbles are altered when they are situated within sufficiently small vessels, there is a paucity of data examining how the bubble population dynamics and emissions change as a function of channel (vessel) diameter over a size range relevant to therapeutic ultrasound, particularly at pressures relevant to antivascular ultrasound. Here we use acoustic emissions detection and high-speed microscopy (10 kframes/s) to examine the behavior of a polydisperse clinically employed agent (Definity®) in wall-less channels as their diameters are scaled from 1200 to 15 µm. Pressures are varied from 0.1 to 3 MPa using either a 5 ms pulse or a sequence of 0.1 ms pulses spaced at 1 ms, both of which have been previously employed in an in vivo context. With increasing pressure, the 1200 µm channel - on the order of small arteries and veins - exhibited inertial cavitation, 1/2 subharmonics and 3/2 ultraharmonics, consistent with numerous previous reports. The 200 and 100 µm channels - in the size range of larger microvessels less affected by therapeutic focused ultrasound - exhibited a distinctly different behavior, having muted development of 1/2 subharmonics and 3/2 ultraharmonics and reduced persistence. These were associated with radiation forces displacing bubbles to the distal wall and inducing clusters that then rapidly dissipated along with emissions. As the diameter transitioned to 50 and then 15 µm - a size regime that is most relevant to therapeutic focused ultrasound - there was a higher threshold for the onset of inertial cavitation as well as subharmonics and ultraharmonics, which importantly had more complex orders that are not normally reported. Clusters also occurred in these channels (e.g. at 3 MPa, the mean lateral and axial sizes were 23 and 72 µm in the 15 µm channel; 50 and 90 µm in the 50 µm channel), however in this case they occupied the entire lumens and displaced the wall boundaries. Damage to the 15 µm channel was observed for both pulse types, but at a lower pressure for the long pulse. Experiments conducted with a 'nanobubble' (<0.45 µm) subpopulation of Definity followed broadly similar features to 'native' Definity, albeit at a higher pressure threshold for inertial cavitation. These results provide new insights into the behavior of microbubbles in small vessels at higher pressures and have implications for therapeutic focused ultrasound cavitation monitoring and control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Zhao
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, M5G 1L7, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada.
| | - Alex Wright
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - David E Goertz
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, M5G 1L7, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Martinez P, Nault G, Steiner J, Wempe MF, Pierce A, Brunt B, Slade M, Song JJ, Mongin A, Song KH, Ellens N, Serkova N, Green AL, Borden M. MRI-guided focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier opening increases drug delivery and efficacy in a diffuse midline glioma mouse model. Neurooncol Adv 2023; 5:vdad111. [PMID: 37795179 PMCID: PMC10547466 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdad111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is the most common and deadliest pediatric brainstem tumor and is difficult to treat with chemotherapy in part due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Focused ultrasound (FUS) and microbubbles (MBs) have been shown to cause BBB opening, allowing larger chemotherapeutics to enter the parenchyma. Panobinostat is an example of a promising in vitro agent in DIPG with poor clinical efficacy due to low BBB penetrance. In this study, we hypothesized that using FUS to disrupt the BBB allows higher concentrations of panobinostat to accumulate in the tumor, providing a therapeutic effect. Methods Mice were orthotopically injected with a patient-derived diffuse midline glioma (DMG) cell line, BT245. MRI was used to guide FUS/MB (1.5 MHz, 0.615 MPa peak negative pressure, 1 Hz pulse repetition frequency, 10-ms pulse length, 3 min treatment time)/(25 µL/kg, i.v.) targeting to the tumor location. Results In animals receiving panobinostat (10 mg/kg, i.p.) in combination with FUS/MB, a 3-fold increase in tumor panobinostat concentration was observed, without significant increase of the drug in the forebrain. In mice receiving 3 weekly treatments, the combination of panobinostat and FUS/MB led to a 71% reduction of tumor volumes (P = .01). Furthermore, we showed the first survival benefit from FUS/MB improved delivery increasing the mean survival from 21 to 31 days (P < .0001). Conclusions Our study demonstrates that FUS-mediated BBB disruption can increase the delivery of panobinostat to an orthotopic DMG tumor, providing a strong therapeutic effect and increased survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Payton Martinez
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Genna Nault
- Department of Radiology, Animal Imaging Shared Resource, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jenna Steiner
- Department of Radiology, Animal Imaging Shared Resource, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Michael F Wempe
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Breauna Brunt
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Mathew Slade
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jane J Song
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrew Mongin
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Kang-Ho Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Nicholas Ellens
- Alpheus Medical, Inc., Chanhassen, Minnesota, USA
- Acertara Acoustic Labs, Longmont, Colorado, USA
| | - Natalie Serkova
- Department of Radiology, Animal Imaging Shared Resource, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Adam L Green
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Mark Borden
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lee H, Guo Y, Ross JL, Schoen S, Degertekin FL, Arvanitis C. Spatially targeted brain cancer immunotherapy with closed-loop controlled focused ultrasound and immune checkpoint blockade. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd2288. [PMID: 36399574 PMCID: PMC9674274 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add2288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Despite the challenges in treating glioblastomas (GBMs) with immune adjuvants, increasing evidence suggests that targeting the immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) can lead to improved responses. Here, we present a closed-loop controlled, microbubble-enhanced focused ultrasound (MB-FUS) system and test its abilities to safely and effectively treat GBMs using immune checkpoint blockade. The proposed system can fine-tune the exposure settings to promote MB acoustic emission-dependent expression of the proinflammatory marker ICAM-1 and delivery of anti-PD1 in a mouse model of GBM. In addition to enhanced interaction of proinflammatory macrophages within the PD1-expressing TME and significant improvement in survival (P < 0.05), the combined treatment induced long-lived memory T cell formation within the brain that supported tumor rejection in rechallenge experiments. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the ability of MB-FUS to augment the therapeutic impact of immune checkpoint blockade in GBMs and reinforce the notion of spatially tumor-targeted (loco-regional) brain cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hohyun Lee
- G.W. School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yutong Guo
- G.W. School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - James L. Ross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Scott Schoen
- Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - F. Levent Degertekin
- G.W. School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Costas Arvanitis
- G.W. School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bismuth M, Katz S, Mano T, Aronovich R, Hershkovitz D, Exner AA, Ilovitsh T. Low frequency nanobubble-enhanced ultrasound mechanotherapy for noninvasive cancer surgery. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:13614-13627. [PMID: 36070492 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr01367c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Scaling down the size of microbubble contrast agents to the nanometer level holds the promise for noninvasive cancer therapy. However, the small size of nanobubbles limits the obtained bioeffects as a result of ultrasound cavitation, when operating near the nanobubble resonance frequency. Here we show that coupled with low energy insonation at a frequency of 80 kHz, well below the resonance frequency of these agents, nanobubbles serve as noninvasive therapeutic warheads that trigger potent mechanical effects in tumors following a systemic injection. We demonstrate these capabilities in tissue mimicking phantoms, where a comparison of the acoustic response of micro- and nano-bubbles after insonation at a frequency of 250 or 80 kHz revealed that higher pressures were needed to implode the nanobubbles compared to microbubbles. Complete nanobubble destruction was achieved at a mechanical index of 2.6 for the 250 kHz insonation vs. 1.2 for the 80 kHz frequency. Thus, the 80 kHz insonation complies with safety regulations that recommend operation below a mechanical index of 1.9. In vitro in breast cancer tumor cells, the cell viability was reduced to 17.3 ± 1.7% of live cells. In vivo, in a breast cancer tumor mouse model, nanobubble tumor distribution and accumulation were evaluated by high frequency ultrasound imaging. Finally, nanobubble-mediated low frequency insonation of breast cancer tumors resulted in effective mechanical tumor ablation and tumor tissue fractionation. This approach provides a unique theranostic platform for safe, noninvasive and low energy tumor mechanotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mike Bismuth
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
| | - Sharon Katz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Tamar Mano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
| | - Ramona Aronovich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
| | - Dov Hershkovitz
- Department of Pathology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997800, Israel
| | - Agata A Exner
- Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Tali Ilovitsh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Chien CY, Xu L, Pacia CP, Yue Y, Chen H. Blood-brain barrier opening in a large animal model using closed-loop microbubble cavitation-based feedback control of focused ultrasound sonication. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16147. [PMID: 36167747 PMCID: PMC9515082 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20568-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with microbubbles has been established as a promising technique for noninvasive and localized Blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening. Real-time passive cavitation detection (PCD)-based feedback control of the FUS sonication is critical to ensure effective BBB opening without causing hemorrhage. This study evaluated the performance of a closed-loop feedback controller in a porcine model. Calibration of the baseline cavitation level was performed for each targeted brain location by a FUS sonication in the presence of intravenously injected microbubbles at a low acoustic pressure without inducing BBB opening. The target cavitation level (TCL) was defined for each target based on the baseline cavitation level. FUS treatment was then performed under real-time PCD-based feedback controller to maintain the cavitation level at the TCL. After FUS treatment, contrast-enhanced MRI and ex vivo histological staining were performed to evaluate the BBB permeability and safety. Safe and effective BBB opening was achieved with the BBB opening volume increased from 3.8 ± 0.7 to 53.6 ± 23.3 mm3 as the TCL was increased from 0.25 to 1 dB. This study validated that effective and safe FUS-induced BBB opening in a large animal model can be achieved with closed-loop feedback control of the FUS sonication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Yen Chien
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Lu Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Christopher Pham Pacia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Yimei Yue
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4511 Forest Park Ave., Saint Louis, MO, 63108, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Hu Z, Chen S, Yang Y, Gong Y, Chen H. An Affordable and Easy-to-Use Focused Ultrasound Device for Noninvasive and High Precision Drug Delivery to the Mouse Brain. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2022; 69:2723-2732. [PMID: 35157574 PMCID: PMC9443669 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2022.3150781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Focused ultrasound (FUS) combined with microbubble-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening (FUS-BBBO) is not only a promising technique for clinical applications but also a powerful tool for preclinical research. However, existing FUS devices for preclinical research are expensive, bulky, and lack the precision needed for small animal research, which limits the broad adoption of this promising technique by the research community. Our objective was to design and fabricate an affordable, easy-to-use, high-precision FUS device for small animal research. METHODS We designed and fabricated in-house mini-FUS transducers (∼$80 each in material cost) with three frequencies (1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 MHz) and integrated them with a stereotactic frame for precise mouse brain targeting using established stereotactic procedures. The BBB opening volume by FUS at different acoustic pressures (0.20-0.57 MPa) was quantified using T1-weighted contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of gadolinium leakage and fluorescence imaging of Evans blue extravasation. RESULTS The targeting accuracy of the device as measured by the offset between the desired target location and the centroid of BBBO was 0.63 ± 0.19 mm. The spatial precision of the device in targeting individual brain structures was improved by the use of higher frequency FUS transducers. The BBB opening volume had high linear correlations with the cavitation index (defined by the ratio between acoustic pressure and frequency) and mechanical index (defined by the ratio between acoustic pressure and the square root of frequency). The correlation coefficient of the cavitation index was slightly higher than that of the mechanical index. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that spatially accurate and precise BBB opening was achievable using an affordable and easy-to-use FUS device. The BBB opening volume was tunable by modulating the cavitation index. This device is expected to decrease the barriers to the adoption of the FUS-BBBO technique by the broad research community.
Collapse
|
20
|
Zhang C, Xiao X, Zhang Y, Liu Z, Xiao X, Nashalian A, Wang X, Cao M, He X, Chen J, Jiang L, Yu C. Bioinspired Anisotropic Slippery Cilia for Stiffness-Controllable Bubble Transport. ACS NANO 2022; 16:9348-9358. [PMID: 35576460 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Bubbles play a crucial role in multidisciplinary industrial applications, e.g., heat transfer and mass transfer. However, existing methods to manipulate bubbles still face many challenges, such as buoyancy inhibition, hydrostatic pressure, gas dissolving, easy deformability, and so on. To circumvent these constraints, here we develop a bioinspired anisotropic slippery cilia surface to achieve an elegant bubble transport by tuning its elastic modulus, which results from the different contacts of bubbles with cilia, i.e., soft cilia will be easily bent by the bubble motion, while hard cilia will pierce into the bubble, consequently leading to the asymmetric three-phase contact line and resistance force. Moreover, a real-time and arbitrarily directional bubble manipulation is also demonstrated by applying an external magnetic field, enabling the scalable operation of bubbles in a remote manner. Our work exhibits a strategy of regulating bubble behavior smartly, which will update a wide range of gas-related sciences or technologies including gas evolution reactions, heat transfer, microfluidics, and so on.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunhui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Beijing 100190, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Department of Bioengineering and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Yuheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zixiao Liu
- Department of Bioengineering and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ardo Nashalian
- Department of Bioengineering and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Xinsheng Wang
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Moyuan Cao
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Ximin He
- Department of Bioengineering and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Lei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Cunming Yu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Gandhi K, Barzegar-Fallah A, Banstola A, Rizwan SB, Reynolds JNJ. Ultrasound-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption for Drug Delivery: A Systematic Review of Protocols, Efficacy, and Safety Outcomes from Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14040833. [PMID: 35456667 PMCID: PMC9029131 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption has garnered focus as a method of delivering normally impenetrable drugs into the brain. Numerous studies have investigated this approach, and a diverse set of ultrasound parameters appear to influence the efficacy and safety of this approach. An understanding of these findings is essential for safe and reproducible BBB disruption, as well as in identifying the limitations and gaps for further advancement of this drug delivery approach. We aimed to collate and summarise protocols and parameters for achieving ultrasound-mediated BBB disruption in animal and clinical studies, as well as the efficacy and safety methods and outcomes associated with each. A systematic search of electronic databases helped in identifying relevant, included studies. Reference lists of included studies were further screened to identify supplemental studies for inclusion. In total, 107 articles were included in this review, and the following parameters were identified as influencing efficacy and safety outcomes: microbubbles, transducer frequency, peak-negative pressure, pulse characteristics, and the dosing of ultrasound applications. Current protocols and parameters achieving ultrasound-mediated BBB disruption, as well as their associated efficacy and safety outcomes, are identified and summarised. Greater standardisation of protocols and parameters in future preclinical and clinical studies is required to inform robust clinical translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kushan Gandhi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand; (K.G.); (A.B.-F.); (A.B.)
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
| | - Anita Barzegar-Fallah
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand; (K.G.); (A.B.-F.); (A.B.)
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
| | - Ashik Banstola
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand; (K.G.); (A.B.-F.); (A.B.)
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
| | - Shakila B. Rizwan
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - John N. J. Reynolds
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand; (K.G.); (A.B.-F.); (A.B.)
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +64-3479-5781; Fax: +64-3479-7254
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Navarro-Becerra JA, Song KH, Martinez P, Borden MA. Microbubble Size and Dose Effects on Pharmacokinetics. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:1686-1695. [PMID: 35357814 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Optimization of contrast-enhanced imaging and focused ultrasound therapy requires a comprehensive understanding of in vivo microbubble (MB) pharmacokinetics. Prior studies have focused pharmacokinetic analysis on indirect techniques, such as ultrasound imaging of the blood pool and gas chromatography of exhaled gases. The goal of this work was to measure the MB concentration directly in blood and correlate the pharmacokinetic parameters with the MB size and dose. MB volume dose (MVD) was chosen to combine the size distribution and number into a single-dose parameter. Different MB sizes (2, 3, and 5 μm diameter) at 5-40 μL/kg MVD were intravenously injected. Blood samples were withdrawn at different times (1-10 min) and analyzed by image processing. We found that for an MVD threshold < 40 μL/kg for 2 and 3 μm and <10 μL/kg for 5 μm, MB clearance followed first-order kinetics. When matching MVD, MBs of different sizes had comparable half-lives, indicating that gas dissolution and elimination by the lungs are the primary mechanisms for elimination. Above the MVD threshold, MB clearance followed biexponential kinetics, suggesting a second elimination mechanism mediated by organ retention, possibly in the lung, liver, and spleen. In conclusion, we present the first direct MB pharmacokinetic study, demonstrate the utility of MVD as a unified dose metric, and provide insights into the mechanisms of MB clearance from circulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Angel Navarro-Becerra
- Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Kang-Ho Song
- Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Payton Martinez
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Mark A Borden
- Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.,Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Chien CY, Yang Y, Gong Y, Yue Y, Chen H. Blood-Brain Barrier Opening by Individualized Closed-Loop Feedback Control of Focused Ultrasound. BME FRONTIERS 2022; 2022:9867230. [PMID: 37850162 PMCID: PMC10521637 DOI: 10.34133/2022/9867230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective and Impact Statement. To develop an approach for individualized closed-loop feedback control of microbubble cavitation to achieve safe and effective focused ultrasound in combination with microbubble-induced blood-brain barrier opening (FUS-BBBO). Introduction. FUS-BBBO is a promising strategy for noninvasive and localized brain drug delivery with a growing number of clinical studies currently ongoing. Real-time cavitation monitoring and feedback control are critical to achieving safe and effective FUS-BBBO. However, feedback control algorithms used in the past were either open-loop or without consideration of baseline cavitation level difference among subjects. Methods. This study performed feedback-controlled FUS-BBBO by defining the target cavitation level based on the baseline stable cavitation level of an individual subject with "dummy" FUS sonication. The dummy FUS sonication applied FUS with a low acoustic pressure for a short duration in the presence of microbubbles to define the baseline stable cavitation level that took into consideration of individual differences in the detected cavitation emissions. FUS-BBBO was then achieved through two sonication phases: ramping-up phase to reach the target cavitation level and maintaining phase to control the stable cavitation level at the target cavitation level. Results. Evaluations performed in wild-type mice demonstrated that this approach achieved effective and safe trans-BBB delivery of a model drug. The drug delivery efficiency increased as the target cavitation level increased from 0.5 dB to 2 dB without causing vascular damage. Increasing the target cavitation level to 3 dB and 4 dB increased the probability of tissue damage. Conclusions. Safe and effective brain drug delivery was achieved using the individualized closed-loop feedback-controlled FUS-BBBO.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Yen Chien
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
| | - Yaoheng Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
| | - Yan Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
| | - Yimei Yue
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Translation of focused ultrasound for blood-brain barrier opening in glioma. J Control Release 2022; 345:443-463. [PMID: 35337938 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Survival outcomes for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) have remained poor for the past 15 years, reflecting a clear challenge in the development of more effective treatment strategies. The efficacy of systemic therapies for GBM is greatly limited by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which prevents drug penetration and accumulation in regions of infiltrative tumour, as represented in a consistent portion of GBM lesions. Focused ultrasound (FUS) - a technique that uses low-frequency ultrasound waves to induce targeted temporary disruption of the BBB - promises to improve survival outcomes by enhancing drug delivery and accumulation to infiltrating tumour regions. In this review we discuss the current state of preclinical investigations using FUS to enhance delivery of systemic therapies to intracranial neoplasms. We highlight critical methodological inconsistencies that are hampering clinical translation of FUS and we provide guiding principles for future preclinical studies. Particularly, we focus our attention on the importance of the selection of clinically relevant animal models and to the standardization of methods for FUS delivery, which will be paramount to the successful clinical translation of this promising technology for treatment in GBM patients. We also discuss how preclinical FUS research can benefit the development of GBM immunotherapies.
Collapse
|
25
|
Profiling of the immune landscape in murine glioblastoma following blood brain/tumor barrier disruption with MR image-guided focused ultrasound. J Neurooncol 2022; 156:109-122. [PMID: 34734364 PMCID: PMC8714701 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-021-03887-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Glioblastoma (GB) poses formidable challenges to systemic immunotherapy approaches owing to the paucity of immune infiltration and presence of the blood brain/tumor barriers (BBB/BTB). We hypothesize that BBB/BTB disruption (BBB/BTB-D) with focused ultrasound (FUS) and microbubbles (MB) increases immune infiltration in GB. As a prelude to rational combination of FUS with ITx, we herein investigate the impact of localized BBB/BTB-D on innate and adaptive immune responses in an orthotopic murine GB model. METHODS Mice with GL261 gliomas received i.v. MB and underwent FUS BBB/BTB-D (1.1 MHz, 0.5 Hz pulse repetition frequency, 10 ms bursts, 0.4-0.6 MPa). Brains, meninges, and peripheral lymphoid organs were excised and examined by flow cytometry 1-2 weeks following FUS. RESULTS The number of dendritic cells (DC) was significantly elevated in GL261 tumors and draining cervical LN in response to sonication. CD86 + DC frequency was also upregulated with 0.6 MPa FUS, suggesting increased maturity. While FUS did not significantly alter CD8 + T cell frequency across evaluated organs, these cells upregulated checkpoint molecules at 1 week post-FUS, suggesting increased activation. By 2 weeks post-FUS, we noted emergence of adaptive resistance mechanisms, including upregulation of TIGIT on CD4 + T cells and CD155 on non-immune tumor and stromal cells. CONCLUSIONS FUS BBB/BTB-D exerts mild, transient inflammatory effects in gliomas-suggesting that its combination with adjunct therapeutic strategies targeting adaptive resistance may improve outcomes. The potential for FUS-mediated BBB/BTB-D to modify immunological signatures is a timely and important consideration for ongoing clinical trials investigating this regimen in GB.
Collapse
|
26
|
Schoen S, Kilinc MS, Lee H, Guo Y, Degertekin FL, Woodworth GF, Arvanitis C. Towards controlled drug delivery in brain tumors with microbubble-enhanced focused ultrasound. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 180:114043. [PMID: 34801617 PMCID: PMC8724442 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Brain tumors are particularly challenging malignancies, due to their location in a structurally and functionally distinct part of the human body - the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is separated and protected by a unique system of brain and blood vessel cells which together prevent most bloodborne therapeutics from entering the brain tumor microenvironment (TME). Recently, great strides have been made through microbubble (MB) ultrasound contrast agents in conjunction with ultrasound energy to locally increase the permeability of brain vessels and modulate the brain TME. As we elaborate in this review, this physical method can effectively deliver a wide range of anticancer agents, including chemotherapeutics, antibodies, and nanoparticle drug conjugates across a range of preclinical brain tumors, including high grade glioma (glioblastoma), diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, and brain metastasis. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that this technology can promote the effective delivery of novel immunotherapeutic agents, including immune check-point inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cells, among others. With early clinical studies demonstrating safety, and several Phase I/II trials testing the preclinical findings underway, this technology is making firm steps towards shaping the future treatments of primary and metastatic brain cancer. By elaborating on its key components, including ultrasound systems and MB technology, along with methods for closed-loop spatial and temporal control of MB activity, we highlight how this technology can be tuned to enable new, personalized treatment strategies for primary brain malignancies and brain metastases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Schoen
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - M. Sait Kilinc
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Hohyun Lee
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Yutong Guo
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - F. Levent Degertekin
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Graeme F. Woodworth
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA,Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, College Park, MD 20742, USA,Fischell Department of Bioengineering A. James Clarke School of Engineering, University of Maryland
| | - Costas Arvanitis
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA,Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Tan C, Yan B, Han T, Yu ACH, Qin P. Improving temporal stability of stable cavitation activity of circulating microbubbles using a closed-loop controller based on pulse-length regulation. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2022; 82:105882. [PMID: 34969003 PMCID: PMC8855699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2021.105882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Stable cavitation (SC) has shown great potential for novel therapeutic applications. The spatiotemporal distribution of the SC activity of microbubbles circulating in a target region is not only correlated with the uniformity of treatment, but also with some undesirable effects. Therefore, it is important to achieve controllable and desirable SC activity in target regions for improved therapeutic efficiency and biosafety. This study proposes a closed-loop feedback controller based on pulse length (PL) regulation to improve the temporal stability of SC activity. Microbubbles circulating in a physiological flowing phantom were exposed to a 1 MHz focused transducer. The SC signals produced were initially received by another 7.5 MHz plane transducer, followed by high-speed signal acquisition and real-time processing. Based on the real-time-measured SC intensity excited by the current acoustic pulse, the proposed closed-loop feedback controller used three proportional coefficients to regulate the peak negative pressure (PNP) and PL of the next acoustic pulse during the acceleration and stable stages, respectively. The results show that the rise time and the temporal stability of the SC intensity of the microbubbles circulating in these two stages were improved significantly by the optimized proportional coefficients used in the proposed controller. Importantly, when compared with the traditional closed-loop feedback controller based on PNP regulation, the proposed closed-loop feedback controller based on PL regulation reduced the probability of a transition between stable and inertial cavitation, thus avoiding the risk of disadvantageous bioeffects in practical applications. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed PL-based closed-loop feedback controller and provide a feasible strategy for realization of controllable cavitation activity in applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunjie Tan
- School of Sensing Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Bo Yan
- School of Sensing Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Tao Han
- School of Sensing Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Alfred C H Yu
- Schlegel Research Institute for Aging, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, Canada
| | - Peng Qin
- School of Sensing Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Institute of Medical Robotics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
|
29
|
Hackett EP, Shah BR, Cheng B, LaGue E, Vemireddy V, Mendoza M, Bing C, Bachoo RM, Billingsley KL, Chopra R, Park JM. Probing Cerebral Metabolism with Hyperpolarized 13C Imaging after Opening the Blood-Brain Barrier with Focused Ultrasound. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:2820-2828. [PMID: 34291630 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Transient disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) with focused ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging clinical method to facilitate targeted drug delivery to the brain. The focal noninvasive disruption of the BBB can be applied to promote the local delivery of hyperpolarized substrates. In this study, we investigated the effects of FUS on imaging brain metabolism using two hyperpolarized 13C-labeled substrates in rodents: [1-13C]pyruvate and [1-13C]glycerate. The BBB is a rate-limiting factor for pyruvate delivery to the brain, and glycerate minimally passes through the BBB. First, cerebral imaging with hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate resulted in an increase in total 13C signals (p = 0.05) after disrupting the BBB with FUS. Significantly higher levels of both [1-13C]lactate (lactate/total 13C signals, p = 0.01) and [13C]bicarbonate (p = 0.008) were detected in the FUS-applied brain region as compared to the contralateral FUS-unaffected normal-appearing brain region. The application of FUS without opening the BBB in a separate group of rodents resulted in comparable lactate and bicarbonate productions between the FUS-applied and the contralateral brain regions. Second, 13C imaging with hyperpolarized [1-13C]glycerate after opening the BBB showed increased [1-13C]glycerate delivery to the FUS-applied region (p = 0.04) relative to the contralateral side, and [1-13C]lactate production was consistently detected from the FUS-applied region. Our findings suggest that FUS accelerates the delivery of hyperpolarized molecules across the BBB and provides enhanced sensitivity to detect metabolic products in the brain; therefore, hyperpolarized 13C imaging with FUS may provide new opportunities to study cerebral metabolic pathways as well as various neurological pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward P. Hackett
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Bhavya R. Shah
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Bingbing Cheng
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- Department of Radiology, The University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Evan LaGue
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California 92834, United States
| | - Vamsidihara Vemireddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Manuel Mendoza
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California 92834, United States
| | - Chenchen Bing
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- Department of Radiology, The University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Robert M. Bachoo
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Kelvin L. Billingsley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California 92834, United States
| | - Rajiv Chopra
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Jae Mo Park
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Exner AA, Kolios MC. Bursting Microbubbles: How Nanobubble Contrast Agents Can Enable the Future of Medical Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 54:101463. [PMID: 34393610 PMCID: PMC8356903 DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2021.101463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The field of medical ultrasound has undergone a significant evolution since the development of microbubbles as contrast agents. However, due to their size, microbubbles remain in the vasculature, and therefore have limited clinical applications. Building a better - and smaller - bubble can expand the applications of contrast-enhanced ultrasound by allowing bubbles to extravasate from blood vessels - creating new opportunities. In this review, we summarize recent research on the formulation and use of NBs as imaging agents and as therapeutic vehicles. We discuss the ongoing debates in the field and reluctance to accepting NBs as an acoustically active construct and a potentially impactful clinical tool that can help shape the future of medical ultrasound. We hope that the overview of key experimental and theoretical findings in the NB field presented in this paper provides a fundamental framework that will help clarify NB-ultrasound interactions and inspire engagement in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agata A. Exner
- Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Wu H, Zhou Y, Xu L, Tong L, Wang Y, Liu B, Yan H, Sun Z. Mapping Knowledge Structure and Research Frontiers of Ultrasound-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Opening: A Scientometric Study. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:706105. [PMID: 34335175 PMCID: PMC8316975 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.706105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Among the effective approaches developed for blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening, ultrasound is recognized as a non-invasive technique that can induce localized BBB opening transiently and repeatedly. This technique has aroused broad attention from researchers worldwide, and numerous articles have been published recently. However, no existing study has systematically examined this field from a scientometric perspective. The aim of this study was to summarize the knowledge structure and identify emerging trends and potential hotspots in this field. Methods: Publications related to ultrasound-induced BBB opening published from 1998 to 2020 were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection. The search strategies were as follows: topic: ("blood brain barrier" OR "BBB") AND topic: (ultrasound OR ultrason* OR acoustic* OR sonopora*). The document type was set to articles or reviews with language restriction to English. Three different analysis tools including one online platform, VOS viewer1.6.16, and CiteSpace V5.7.R2 software were used to conduct this scientometric study. Results: A total of 1,201 valid records were included in the final analysis. The majority of scientific publication was produced by authors from North America, Eastern Asia, and Western Europe. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology was the most prominent journal. The USA, China, and Canada were the most productive countries. Hynynen K, and Mcdannold N were key researchers with considerable academic influence. According to analysis of keywords, four main research directions were identified: cluster 1 (microbubbles study), cluster 2 (management of intracranial tumors), cluster 3 (ultrasound parameters and mechanisms study), and cluster 4 (treatment of neurodegenerative diseases). The current research hotspot has shifted from the basic research of ultrasound and microbubbles to management of intracranial tumors and neurodegenerative diseases. Burst detection analysis showed that Parkinson's disease, doxorubicin, gold nanoparticle, glioblastoma, gene therapy, and Alzheimer's disease may continue to be the research frontiers. Conclusion: Ultrasound-induced BBB opening research is in a period of robust development. This study is a starting point, providing a comprehensive overview, development landscape, and future opportunities of this technology, which standout as a useful reference for researchers and decision makers interested in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Wu
- Clinical College of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurorehabilitation, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Clinical College of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurorehabilitation, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lixia Xu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cerebral Vascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tianjin Neurosurgical Institute, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Linjian Tong
- Clinical College of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurorehabilitation, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yulin Wang
- Clinical College of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurorehabilitation, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Baolong Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hua Yan
- Clinical College of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurorehabilitation, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cerebral Vascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tianjin Neurosurgical Institute, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhiming Sun
- Clinical College of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurorehabilitation, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Spine and Spinal Cord, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Rehman FU, Rauf MA, Ullah S, Shaikh S, Qambrani A, Muhammad P, Hanif S. Ultrasound-activated nano-TiO2 loaded with temozolomide paves the way for resection of chemoresistant glioblastoma multiforme. Cancer Nanotechnol 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s12645-021-00088-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most daunting issues to modern therapeutics, with a higher mortality rate post-diagnosis. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the only available treatment; however, the frequent resistance leaves the oncologists at a dead end. Therefore, new approaches to circumvent the GBM are highly desired. We have employed TiO2 nanosticks loaded with TMZ as nanomedicine for TMZ-resistant GBM resection in this contribution.
Results
The ultrasonication triple-action effect could greatly facilitate tumor ablation by enhancing the TiO2 nanosticks traversing across BBB, releasing the TMZ payload from TiO2 nanosticks and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation from TiO2 nanosticks within the GBM milieu. The tumor ablation was confirmed by MTT and Annexin(v)-PI assays, apoptotic proteins expression via western blot and ROS level detection in vitro, whereas tumor volume, weight, survival rate, and relative photon flux in the xenograft and orthoptic TMZ-resistant GBM murine models as in vivo.
Conclusion
We found this nanomedicine-based ultrasound modality highly efficient in GBM treatment and is of future clinical application value due to the employment of already FDA-approved techniques and nanomedicine.
Collapse
|
33
|
Brain-targeted drug delivery assisted by physical techniques and its potential applications in traditional Chinese medicine. JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICAL SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcms.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
|
34
|
Chan MH, Chen W, Li CH, Fang CY, Chang YC, Wei DH, Liu RS, Hsiao M. An Advanced In Situ Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasonic Theranostics Nanocomposite Platform: Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier and Improving the Suppression of Glioblastoma Using Iron-Platinum Nanoparticles in Nanobubbles. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:26759-26769. [PMID: 34076419 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c04990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the deadliest and most invasive brain cancers/gliomas, and there is currently no established way to treat this disease. The treatment of GBM typically involves intracranial surgery followed by chemotherapy. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) impedes the delivery of the chemotherapeutic drug, making the treatment challenging. In this study, we embedded a chemotherapeutic drug and other nanomaterials into a nanobubble (NB), utilized active tracking and other guidance mechanisms to guide the nanocomposite to the tumor site, and then used high-intensity focused ultrasound oscillation to burst the nanobubbles, generating a transient cavitation impact on the BBB and allowing the drug to bypass it and reach the brain. FePt enhances the resolution of T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging images and has magnetic properties that help guide the nanocomposite to the tumor location. FePt nanoparticles were loaded into the hydrophobic core of the NBs along with doxorubicin to form a bubble-based drug delivery system (Dox-FePt@NB). The surface of the NBs is modified with a targeting ligand, transferrin (Dox-FePt@NB-Tf), giving the nanocomposite active tracking abilities. The Dox-FePt@NB-Tf developed in the present study represents a potential breakthrough in GBM treatment through improved drug delivery and biological imaging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hsien Chan
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - William Chen
- Upper School, Taipei American School, Taipei 11152, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Hsiu Li
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yeu Fang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chan Chang
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Da-Hua Wei
- Graduate Institute of Manufacturing Technology and Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, Taiwan
| | - Ru-Shi Liu
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Michael Hsiao
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Lacerda Q, Tantawi M, Leeper DB, Wheatley MA, Eisenbrey JR. Emerging Applications of Ultrasound-Contrast Agents in Radiation Therapy. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2021; 47:1465-1474. [PMID: 33653626 PMCID: PMC8044052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Radiation therapy (RT) causes DNA damage through ionization, leading to double-strand breaks. In addition, it generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are toxic to tumor cells and the vasculature. However, hypoxic regions in the tumor have been shown to not only decrease treatment response but also increase the likelihood of recurrence and metastasis. Ultrasound-sensitive micro-bubbles are emerging as a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool within RT. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has shown great promise in early prediction of tumor response to RT. Ultrasound-triggered micro-bubble cavitation has also been shown to induce bio-effects that can sensitize angiogenic tumor vessels to RT. Additionally, ultrasound can trigger the release of drugs from micro-bubble carriers via localized micro-bubble destruction. This approach has numerous applications in RT, including targeted oxygen delivery before radiotherapy. Furthermore, micro-bubbles can be used to locally create ROS without radiation. Sonodynamic therapy uses focused ultrasound and a sonosensitizer to selectively produce ROS in the tumor region and has been explored as a treatment option for cancer. This review summarizes emerging applications of ultrasound contrast agents in RT and ROS augmentation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Quezia Lacerda
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mohamed Tantawi
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Dennis B Leeper
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Margaret A Wheatley
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John R Eisenbrey
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
McMahon D, O'Reilly MA, Hynynen K. Therapeutic Agent Delivery Across the Blood-Brain Barrier Using Focused Ultrasound. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2021; 23:89-113. [PMID: 33752471 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-062117-121238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Specialized features of vasculature in the central nervous system greatly limit therapeutic treatment options for many neuropathologies. Focused ultrasound, in combination with circulating microbubbles, can be used to transiently and noninvasively increase cerebrovascular permeability with a high level of spatial precision. For minutes to hours following sonication, drugs can be administered systemically to extravasate in the targeted brain regions and exert a therapeutic effect, after which permeability returns to baseline levels. With the wide range of therapeutic agents that can be delivered using this approach and the growing clinical need, focused ultrasound and microbubble (FUS+MB) exposure in the brain has entered human testing to assess safety. This review outlines the use of FUS+MB-mediated cerebrovascular permeability enhancement as a drug delivery technique, details several technical and biological considerations of this approach, summarizes results from the clinical trials conducted to date, and discusses the future direction of the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dallan McMahon
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; .,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 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 M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; .,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada.,Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Hysi E, Fadhel MN, Wang Y, Sebastian JA, Giles A, Czarnota GJ, Exner AA, Kolios MC. Photoacoustic imaging biomarkers for monitoring biophysical changes during nanobubble-mediated radiation treatment. PHOTOACOUSTICS 2020; 20:100201. [PMID: 32775198 PMCID: PMC7393572 DOI: 10.1016/j.pacs.2020.100201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The development of novel anticancer therapies warrants the parallel development of biomarkers that can quantify their effectiveness. Photoacoustic imaging has the potential to measure changes in tumor vasculature during treatment. Establishing the accuracy of imaging biomarkers requires direct comparisons with gold histological standards. In this work, we explore whether a new class of submicron, vascular disrupting, ultrasonically stimulated nanobubbles enhance radiation therapy. In vivo experiments were conducted on mice bearing prostate cancer tumors. Combined nanobubble plus radiation treatments were compared against conventional microbubbles and radiation alone (single 8 Gy fraction). Acoustic resolution photoacoustic imaging was used to monitor the effects of the treatments 2- and 24-hs post-administration. Histological examination provided metrics of tumor vascularity and tumoral cell death, both of which were compared to photoacoustic-derived biomarkers. Photoacoustic metrics of oxygen saturation reveal a 20 % decrease in oxygenation within 24 h post-treatment. The spectral slope metric could separate the response of the nanobubble treatments from the microbubble counterparts. This study shows that histopathological assessment correlated well with photoacoustic biomarkers of treatment response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eno Hysi
- Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
- Insitute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Muhannad N. Fadhel
- Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
- Insitute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yanjie Wang
- Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
- Insitute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Joseph A. Sebastian
- Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
- Insitute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Anoja Giles
- Deparment of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, Canada
- Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Gregory J. Czarnota
- Deparment of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, Canada
- Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Deparment of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Agata A. Exner
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, United States
| | - Michael C. Kolios
- Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
- Insitute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
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.
Collapse
|
39
|
Moore MJ, Bodera F, Hernandez C, Shirazi N, Abenojar E, Exner AA, Kolios MC. The dance of the nanobubbles: detecting acoustic backscatter from sub-micron bubbles using ultra-high frequency acoustic microscopy. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:21420-21428. [PMID: 33079108 PMCID: PMC7646462 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr05390b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Nanobubbles have gained attention for their use as highly stable ultrasound (US) contrast agents, but assessment of individual nanobubble size remains a challenge. Current sizing techniques require either extensive sample preparation or depend on assumed values of nanobubble density that are not well characterized. An US based approach would be desirable; however, probing individual nanobubbles using US transducers at clinical frequencies is not feasible due to the comparatively long acoustic wavelengths employed. Here we present a technique which can be used to estimate nano- or microbubble size by virtue of the amount of motion detected in an M-Mode image acquired using an acoustic microscope equipped with a 200 MHz transducer. A sample of a bubble-containing solution is incorporated into a phantom composed of molten agarose. The solidified agarose gel contains pores with well-defined sizes dictated by the agarose concentration. Bubbles in the gel matrix that are smaller in diameter than the gel pore size are capable of undergoing stochastic motion which manifests as intensity fluctuations in M-Mode images. Conversely, bubbles which are larger than the agarose pores become trapped and produce static M-Mode intensity patterns. In this study, agarose gels with concentrations ranging from 0.25% to 1.25% (mean pore sizes ranging from 2.68 μm to 0.34 μm) were loaded with either nanobubbles (mean diameter 0.326 μm) or microbubbles (mean diameter 2.71 μm) and imaged at 200 MHz. In the nanobubble loaded gels, M-Mode fluctuations were clearly visible up to a gel concentration of 1% (pore size of 0.39 μm). In contrast, the microbubble loaded gels exhibited minimal M-Mode fluctuation even at agarose concentrations of 0.25% (2.68 μm pore size). Autocorrelation curves generated from the M-Mode data demonstrated a clear trend of curve flattening (loss of motion) when the pore size was comparable to mean bubble diameter, indicating that individual bubbles trapped in the agarose pores are the main source of acoustic backscatter. In the future, decay parameters extracted from the autocorrelation curves could potentially be used as indicators of mean bubble diameter for bubble populations of unknown size.
Collapse
|
40
|
Lapin NA, Gill K, Shah BR, Chopra R. Consistent opening of the blood brain barrier using focused ultrasound with constant intravenous infusion of microbubble agent. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16546. [PMID: 33024157 PMCID: PMC7538995 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73312-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood brain barrier (BBB) is a major obstacle to the delivery of therapeutics to the brain. Focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with microbubbles can non-invasively open the BBB in a targeted manner. Bolus intravenous injections of microbubbles are standard practice, but dynamic influx and clearance mechanisms prevent delivery of a uniform dose with time. When multiple targets are selected for sonication in a single treatment, uniform serum concentrations of microbubbles are important for consistent BBB opening. Herein, we show that bubble infusions were able to achieve consistent BBB opening at multiple target sites. FUS exposures were conducted with different Definity microbubble concentrations at various acoustic pressures. To quantify the effects of infusion on BBB opening, we calculated the MRI contrast enhancement rate. When infusions were performed at rates of 7.2 µl microbubbles/kg/min or below, we were able to obtain consistent BBB opening without injury at all pressures. However, when infusion rates exceeded 20 µl/kg/min, signs of injury occurred at pressures from 0.39 to 0.56 MPa. When compared to bolus injections, a bubble infusion offers a more controlled and consistent approach to multi-target BBB disruption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Norman A Lapin
- Focused Ultrasound Laboratory, Department of Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Kirt Gill
- Focused Ultrasound Laboratory, Department of Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Bhavya R Shah
- Focused Ultrasound Laboratory, Department of Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.,Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.,Advanced Imaging Research Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Rajiv Chopra
- Focused Ultrasound Laboratory, Department of Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA. .,Advanced Imaging Research Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Ozdas MS, Shah AS, Johnson PM, Patel N, Marks M, Yasar TB, Stalder U, Bigler L, von der Behrens W, Sirsi SR, Yanik MF. Non-invasive molecularly-specific millimeter-resolution manipulation of brain circuits by ultrasound-mediated aggregation and uncaging of drug carriers. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4929. [PMID: 33004789 PMCID: PMC7529901 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18059-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive, molecularly-specific, focal modulation of brain circuits with low off-target effects can lead to breakthroughs in treatments of brain disorders. We systemically inject engineered ultrasound-controllable drug carriers and subsequently apply a novel two-component Aggregation and Uncaging Focused Ultrasound Sequence (AU-FUS) at the desired targets inside the brain. The first sequence aggregates drug carriers with millimeter-precision by orders of magnitude. The second sequence uncages the carrier's cargo locally to achieve high target specificity without compromising the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Upon release from the carriers, drugs locally cross the intact BBB. We show circuit-specific manipulation of sensory signaling in motor cortex in rats by locally concentrating and releasing a GABAA receptor agonist from ultrasound-controlled carriers. Our approach uses orders of magnitude (1300x) less drug than is otherwise required by systemic injection and requires very low ultrasound pressures (20-fold below FDA safety limits for diagnostic imaging). We show that the BBB remains intact using passive cavitation detection (PCD), MRI-contrast agents and, importantly, also by sensitive fluorescent dye extravasation and immunohistochemistry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet S Ozdas
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, D-ITET, ETH Zurich and UZH, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aagam S Shah
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, D-ITET, ETH Zurich and UZH, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Neuroscience Center, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Paul M Johnson
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, D-ITET, ETH Zurich and UZH, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nisheet Patel
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, D-ITET, ETH Zurich and UZH, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Marks
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, D-ITET, ETH Zurich and UZH, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tansel Baran Yasar
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, D-ITET, ETH Zurich and UZH, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Stalder
- Department of Chemistry, UZH, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Wolfger von der Behrens
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, D-ITET, ETH Zurich and UZH, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Shashank R Sirsi
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, D-ITET, ETH Zurich and UZH, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Bioengineering, UT at Dallas, Richardson, USA
| | - Mehmet Fatih Yanik
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, D-ITET, ETH Zurich and UZH, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Neuroscience Center, Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Pellow C, Abenojar EC, Exner AA, Zheng G, Goertz DE. Concurrent visual and acoustic tracking of passive and active delivery of nanobubbles to tumors. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:11690-11706. [PMID: 33052241 PMCID: PMC7545999 DOI: 10.7150/thno.51316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: There has been growing interest in nanobubbles for their potential to extend bubble-mediated ultrasound approaches beyond that of their larger microbubble counterparts. In particular, the smaller scale of nanobubbles may enable them to access the tumor extravascular compartment for imaging and therapy in closer proximity to cancer cells. Compelling preliminary demonstrations of the imaging and therapeutic abilities of nanobubbles have thus emerged, with emphasis on their ability to extravasate. However, studies to date rely on indirect histologic evidence that cannot confirm whether the structures remain intact beyond the vasculature - leaving their extravascular potential largely untapped. Methods: Nanobubble acoustic scattering was assessed using a recently reported ultra-stable formulation at low concentration (106 mL-1) and frequency (1 MHz), over a range of pressures (100-1500 kPa) in a channel phantom. The pressure-dependent response was utilized as a basis for in vivo experiments where ultrasound transmitters and receivers were integrated into a window chamber for simultaneous intravital multiphoton microscopy and acoustic monitoring in tumor-affected microcirculation. Microscopy and acoustic data were utilized to assess passive and active delivery of nanobubbles and determine whether they remained intact beyond the vasculature. Results: Nanobubbles exhibit pressure-dependent nonlinear acoustic scattering. Nanobubbles are also found to have prolonged acoustic vascular pharmacokinetics, and passively extravasate intact into tumors. Ultrasound stimulation of nanobubbles is shown to actively enhance the delivery of both intact nanobubbles and shell material, increasing their spatial bioavailability deeper into the extravascular space. A range of acute vascular effects were also observed. Conclusion: This study presents the first direct evidence that nanobubbles passively and actively extravasate intact in tumor tissue, and is the first to directly capture acute vascular events from ultrasound-stimulation of nanobubbles. The insights gained here demonstrate an important step towards unlocking the potential of nanobubbles and extending ultrasound-based applications.
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Glioblastoma (GBM) patients have a poor prognosis despite the use of modern synergistic multimodal treatment strategies, with a progression-free survival estimated at 7-8 months, a median survival of 14-16 months and 5-year overall survival of 9.8%. RECENT FINDINGS Physical methods hold the promise to act synergistically with classical treatments to improve the outcome of GBM patients. Fluorescent guided surgery with 5-aminolevulinic acid and tumor-treating fields therapy have already shown positive results in randomized phase III trials and have been incorporated in the standard management. Other techniques such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and focused ultrasound, often combined whit microbubbles, are reaching clinical development. SUMMARY Several clinical trials to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of ultrasound devices to disrupt the blood-brain barrier are ongoing. PDT enables the creation of a safety margin or treatment of non-resecable tumors. However, randomized trials are urgently required to validate the efficacy of these promising approaches. We aim to critically review physical approaches to treat GBM, focusing on available clinical trial data.
Collapse
|
44
|
Bellary A, Villarreal A, Eslami R, Undseth QJ, Lec B, Defnet AM, Bagrodia N, Kandel JJ, Borden MA, Shaikh S, Chopra R, Laetsch TW, Delaney LJ, Shaw CM, Eisenbrey JR, Hernandez SL, Sirsi SR. Perfusion-guided sonopermeation of neuroblastoma: a novel strategy for monitoring and predicting liposomal doxorubicin uptake in vivo. Theranostics 2020; 10:8143-8161. [PMID: 32724463 PMCID: PMC7381728 DOI: 10.7150/thno.45903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in infants and children, and imposes significant morbidity and mortality in this population. The aggressive chemoradiotherapy required to treat high-risk NB results in survival of less than 50%, yet is associated with significant long-term adverse effects in survivors. Boosting efficacy and reducing morbidity are therefore key goals of treatment for affected children. We hypothesize that these may be achieved by developing strategies that both focus and limit toxic therapies to the region of the tumor. One such strategy is the use of targeted image-guided drug delivery (IGDD), which is growing in popularity in personalized therapy to simultaneously improve on-target drug deposition and assess drug pharmacodynamics in individual patients. IGDD strategies can utilize a variety of imaging modalities and methods of actively targeting pharmaceutical drugs, however in vivo imaging in combination with focused ultrasound is one of the most promising approaches already being deployed for clinical applications. Over the last two decades, IGDD using focused ultrasound with "microbubble" ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) has been increasingly explored as a method of targeting a wide variety of diseases, including cancer. This technique, known as sonopermeation, mechanically augments vascular permeability, enabling increased penetration of drugs into target tissue. However, to date, methods of monitoring the vascular bioeffects of sonopermeation in vivo are lacking. UCAs are excellent vascular probes in contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging, and are thus uniquely suited for monitoring the effects of sonopermeation in tumors. Methods: To monitor the therapeutic efficacy of sonopermeation in vivo, we developed a novel system using 2D and 3D quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging (qCEUS). 3D tumor volume and contrast enhancement was used to evaluate changes in blood volume during sonopermeation. 2D qCEUS-derived time-intensity curves (TICs) were used to assess reperfusion rates following sonopermeation therapy. Intratumoral doxorubicin (and liposome) uptake in NB was evalauted ex vivo along with associated vascular changes. Results: In this study, we demonstrate that combining focused ultrasound therapy with UCAs can significantly enhance chemotherapeutic payload to NB in an orthotopic xenograft model, by improving delivery and tumoral uptake of long-circulating liposomal doxorubicin (L-DOX) nanoparticles. qCEUS imaging suggests that changes in flow rates are highly sensitive to sonopermeation and could be used to monitor the efficacy of treatment in vivo. Additionally, initial tumor perfusion may be a good predictor of drug uptake during sonopermeation. Following sonopermeation treatment, vascular biomarkers show increased permeability due to reduced pericyte coverage and rapid onset of doxorubicin-induced apoptosis of NB cells but without damage to blood vessels. Conclusion: Our results suggest that significant L-DOX uptake can occur by increasing tumor vascular permeability with microbubble sonopermeation without otherwise damaging the vasculature, as confirmed by in vivo qCEUS imaging and ex vivo analysis. The use of qCEUS imaging to monitor sonopermeation efficiency and predict drug uptake could potentially provide real-time feedback to clinicians for determining treatment efficacy in tumors, leading to better and more efficient personalized therapies. Finally, we demonstrate how the IGDD strategy outlined in this study could be implemented in human patients using a single case study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Bellary
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Arelly Villarreal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Rojin Eslami
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Quincy J. Undseth
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Bianca Lec
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ann M. Defnet
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Naina Bagrodia
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jessica J. Kandel
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mark A. Borden
- Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Sumbul Shaikh
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rajiv Chopra
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Theodore W. Laetsch
- Department of Pediatrics and Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lauren J. Delaney
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Colette M. Shaw
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John R. Eisenbrey
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sonia L. Hernandez
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shashank R. Sirsi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Sun T, Dasgupta A, Zhao Z, Nurunnabi M, Mitragotri S. Physical triggering strategies for drug delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2020; 158:36-62. [PMID: 32589905 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Physically triggered systems hold promise for improving drug delivery by enhancing the controllability of drug accumulation and release, lowering non-specific toxicity, and facilitating clinical translation. Several external physical stimuli including ultrasound, light, electric fields and magnetic fields have been used to control drug delivery and they share some common features such as spatial targeting, spatiotemporal control, and minimal invasiveness. At the same time, they possess several distinctive features in terms of interactions with biological entities and/or the extent of stimulus response. Here, we review the key advances of such systems with a focus on discussing their physical mechanisms, the design rationales, and translational challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Sun
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anshuman Dasgupta
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Zongmin Zhao
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Md Nurunnabi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, TX 79902, USA
| | - Samir Mitragotri
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
A new safety index based on intrapulse monitoring of ultra-harmonic cavitation during ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening procedures. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10088. [PMID: 32572103 PMCID: PMC7308405 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66994-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening using microbubbles is a promising technique for local delivery of therapeutic molecules into the brain. The real-time control of the ultrasound dose delivered through the skull is necessary as the range of pressure for efficient and safe BBB opening is very narrow. Passive cavitation detection (PCD) is a method proposed to monitor the microbubble activity during ultrasound exposure. However, there is still no consensus on a reliable safety indicator able to predict potential damage in the brain. Current approaches for the control of the beam intensity based on PCD employ a full-pulse analysis and may suffer from a lack of sensitivity and poor reaction time. To overcome these limitations, we propose an intra-pulse analysis to monitor the evolution of the frequency content during ultrasound bursts. We hypothesized that the destabilization of microbubbles exposed to a critical level of ultrasound would result in the instantaneous generation of subharmonic and ultra-harmonic components. This specific signature was exploited to define a new sensitive indicator of the safety of the ultrasound protocol. The approach was validated in vivo in rats and non-human primates using a retrospective analysis. Our results demonstrate that intra-pulse monitoring was able to exhibit a sudden appearance of ultra-harmonics during the ultrasound excitation pulse. The repeated detection of such a signature within the excitation pulse was highly correlated with the occurrence of side effects such as hemorrhage and edema. Keeping the acoustic pressure at levels where no such sign of microbubble destabilization occurred resulted in safe BBB openings, as shown by MR images and gross pathology. This new indicator should be more sensitive than conventional full-pulse analysis and can be used to distinguish between potentially harmful and safe ultrasound conditions in the brain with very short reaction time.
Collapse
|
47
|
Nelson BC, Minelli C, Doak SH, Roesslein M. Emerging Standards and Analytical Science for Nanoenabled Medical Products. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (PALO ALTO, CALIF.) 2020; 13:431-452. [PMID: 32084321 PMCID: PMC8221451 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-091619-102216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Development and application of nanotechnology-enabled medical products, including drugs, devices, and in vitro diagnostics, are rapidly expanding in the global marketplace. In this review, the focus is on providing the reader with an introduction to the landscape of commercially available nanotechnology-enabled medical products as well as an overview of the international documentary standards and reference materials that support and facilitate efficient regulatory evaluation and reliable manufacturing of this diverse group of medical products. We describe the materials, test methods, and standards development needs for emerging medical products. Scientific and measurement challenges involved in the development and application of innovative nanoenabled medical products motivate discussion throughout this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bryant C Nelson
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA;
| | - Caterina Minelli
- National Physical Laboratory, Chemical and Biological Science Department, Teddington TW11 0LW, United Kingdom
| | - Shareen H Doak
- Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Matthias Roesslein
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Materials Meet Life Department, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Kooiman K, Roovers S, Langeveld SAG, Kleven RT, Dewitte H, O'Reilly MA, Escoffre JM, Bouakaz A, Verweij MD, Hynynen K, Lentacker I, Stride E, Holland CK. Ultrasound-Responsive Cavitation Nuclei for Therapy and Drug Delivery. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:1296-1325. [PMID: 32165014 PMCID: PMC7189181 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic ultrasound strategies that harness the mechanical activity of cavitation nuclei for beneficial tissue bio-effects are actively under development. The mechanical oscillations of circulating microbubbles, the most widely investigated cavitation nuclei, which may also encapsulate or shield a therapeutic agent in the bloodstream, trigger and promote localized uptake. Oscillating microbubbles can create stresses either on nearby tissue or in surrounding fluid to enhance drug penetration and efficacy in the brain, spinal cord, vasculature, immune system, biofilm or tumors. This review summarizes recent investigations that have elucidated interactions of ultrasound and cavitation nuclei with cells, the treatment of tumors, immunotherapy, the blood-brain and blood-spinal cord barriers, sonothrombolysis, cardiovascular drug delivery and sonobactericide. In particular, an overview of salient ultrasound features, drug delivery vehicles, therapeutic transport routes and pre-clinical and clinical studies is provided. Successful implementation of ultrasound and cavitation nuclei-mediated drug delivery has the potential to change the way drugs are administered systemically, resulting in more effective therapeutics and less-invasive treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klazina Kooiman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Silke Roovers
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Lab for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Simone A G Langeveld
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert T Kleven
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Heleen Dewitte
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Lab for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Medical School of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Meaghan A O'Reilly
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Ayache Bouakaz
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | - Martin D Verweij
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Laboratory of Acoustical Wavefield Imaging, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ine Lentacker
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Lab for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eleanor Stride
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christy K Holland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Frinking P, Segers T, Luan Y, Tranquart F. Three Decades of Ultrasound Contrast Agents: A Review of the Past, Present and Future Improvements. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:892-908. [PMID: 31941587 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Initial reports from the 1960s describing the observations of ultrasound contrast enhancement by tiny gaseous bubbles during echocardiographic examinations prompted the development of the first ultrasound contrast agent in the 1980s. Current commercial contrast agents for echography, such as Definity, Optison, Sonazoid and SonoVue, have proven to be successful in a variety of on- and off-label clinical indications. Whereas contrast-specific technology has seen dramatic progress after the introduction of the first approved agents in the 1990s, successful clinical translation of new developments has been limited during the same period, while understanding of microbubble physical, chemical and biologic behavior has improved substantially. It is expected that for a successful development of future opportunities, such as ultrasound molecular imaging and therapeutic applications using microbubbles, new creative developments in microbubble engineering and production dedicated to further optimizing microbubble performance are required, and that they cannot rely on bubble technology developed more than 3 decades ago.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Frinking
- Tide Microfluidics, Capitool 41, Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Tim Segers
- Physics of Fluids group, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Ying Luan
- R&D Pharmaceutical Diagnostics, General Electric Healthcare, Amersham, UK
| | - François Tranquart
- R&D Pharmaceutical Diagnostics, General Electric Healthcare, Amersham, UK
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Theoretical and Experimental Gas Volume Quantification of Micro- and Nanobubble Ultrasound Contrast Agents. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12030208. [PMID: 32121484 PMCID: PMC7150797 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12030208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The amount of gas in ultrasound contrast agents is related to their acoustic activity. Because of this relationship, gas volume has been used as a key variable in normalizing the in vitro and in vivo acoustic behavior of lipid shell-stabilized bubbles with different sizes and shell components. Despite its importance, bubble gas volume has typically only been theoretically calculated based on bubble size and concentration that is typically measured using the Coulter counter for microbubbles and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) for nanoscale bubbles. However, while these methods have been validated for the analysis of liquid or solid particles, their application in bubble analysis has not been rigorously studied. We have previously shown that resonant mass measurement (RMM) may be a better-suited technique for sub-micron bubble analysis, as it can measure both buoyant and non-buoyant particle size and concentration. Here, we provide validation of RMM bubble analysis by using headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to experimentally measure the gas volume of the bubble samples. This measurement was then used as ground truth to test the accuracy of theoretical gas volume predictions based on RMM, NTA (for nanobubbles), and Coulter counter (for microbubbles) measurements. The results show that the headspace GC/MS gas volume measurements agreed well with the theoretical predictions for the RMM of nanobubbles but not NTA. For nanobubbles, the theoretical gas volume using RMM was 10% lower than the experimental GC/MS measurements; meanwhile, using NTA resulted in an 82% lower predicted gas volume. For microbubbles, the experimental gas volume from the GC/MS measurements was 27% lower compared to RMM and 72% less compared to the Coulter counter results. This study demonstrates that the gas volume of nanobubbles and microbubbles can be reliably measured using headspace GC/MS to validate bubble size measurement techniques. We also conclude that the accuracy of theoretical predictions is highly dependent on proper size and concentration measurements.
Collapse
|