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López-Aguirre M, Castillo-Ortiz M, Viña-González A, Blesa J, Pineda-Pardo JA. The road ahead to successful BBB opening and drug-delivery with focused ultrasound. J Control Release 2024; 372:901-913. [PMID: 38971426 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
This review delves into the innovative technology of Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) opening with low-intensity focused ultrasound in combination with microbubbles (LIFU-MB), a promising therapeutic modality aimed at enhancing drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS). The BBB's selective permeability, while crucial for neuroprotection, significantly hampers the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for CNS disorders. LIFU-MB emerges as a non-invasive and localized method to transiently increase BBB permeability, facilitating the delivery of therapeutic molecules. Here, we review the procedural stages of LIFU-MB interventions, including planning and preparation, sonication, evaluation, and delivery, highlighting the technological diversity and methodological challenges encountered in current clinical applications. With an emphasis on safety and efficacy, we discuss the crucial aspects of ultrasound delivery, microbubble administration, acoustic feedback monitoring and assessment of BBB permeability. Finally, we explore the critical choices for effective BBB opening with LIFU-MB, focusing on selecting therapeutic agents, optimizing delivery methods, and timing for delivery. Overcoming existing barriers to integrate this technology into clinical practice could potentially revolutionize CNS drug delivery and treatment paradigms in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel López-Aguirre
- HM CINAC (Centro Integral de Neurociencias Abarca Campal), Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, HM Hospitales, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria HM Hospitales, Spain; PhD Program in Physics, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Castillo-Ortiz
- HM CINAC (Centro Integral de Neurociencias Abarca Campal), Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, HM Hospitales, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria HM Hospitales, Spain; PhD Program in Technologies for Health and Well-being, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Molecular Imaging Technologies Research Institute (I3M), Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ariel Viña-González
- HM CINAC (Centro Integral de Neurociencias Abarca Campal), Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, HM Hospitales, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria HM Hospitales, Spain; PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Blesa
- HM CINAC (Centro Integral de Neurociencias Abarca Campal), Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, HM Hospitales, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria HM Hospitales, Spain; Facultad HM de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad Camilo José Cela, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Pineda-Pardo
- HM CINAC (Centro Integral de Neurociencias Abarca Campal), Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, HM Hospitales, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria HM Hospitales, Spain.
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Xu Z, Piao X, Wang M, Pichardo S, Cheng B. Microbubble-enhanced transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound brain hyperthermia: heating mechanism investigation using finite element method. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2024; 107:106889. [PMID: 38702233 PMCID: PMC11214346 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2024.106889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Recently, our group developed a synergistic brain drug delivery method to achieve simultaneous transcranial hyperthermia and localized blood-brain barrier opening via MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS). In a rodent model, we demonstrated that the ultrasound power required for transcranial MRgFUS hyperthermia was significantly reduced by injecting microbubbles (MBs). However, the specific mechanisms underlying the power reduction caused by MBs remain unclear. The present study aims to elucidate the mechanisms of MB-enhanced transcranial MRgFUS hyperthermia through numerical studies using the finite element method. The microbubble acoustic emission (MAE) and the viscous dissipation (VD) were hypothesized to be the specific mechanisms. Acoustic wave propagation was used to model the FUS propagation in the brain tissue, and a bubble dynamics equation for describing the dynamics of MBs with small shell thickness was used to model the MB oscillation under FUS exposures. A modified bioheat transfer equation was used to model the temperature in the rodent brain with different heat sources. A theoretical model was used to estimate the bubble shell's surface tension, elasticity, and viscosity losses. The simulation reveals that MAE and VD caused a 40.5% and 52.3% additional temperature rise, respectively. Compared with FUS only, MBs caused a 64.0% temperature increase, which is consistent with our previous animal experiments. Our investigation showed that MAE and VD are the main mechanisms of MB-enhanced transcranial MRgFUS hyperthermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhouyang Xu
- Translational Research in Ultrasound Theranostics Laboratory, School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangkun Piao
- Translational Research in Ultrasound Theranostics Laboratory, School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyu Wang
- Translational Research in Ultrasound Theranostics Laboratory, School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Samuel Pichardo
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Bingbing Cheng
- Translational Research in Ultrasound Theranostics Laboratory, School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
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Durham PG, Butnariu A, Alghorazi R, Pinton G, Krishna V, Dayton PA. Current clinical investigations of focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier disruption: A review. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00352. [PMID: 38636309 PMCID: PMC11044032 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00352] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents a formidable challenge in delivering therapeutic agents to the central nervous system. Ultrasound-mediated BBB disruption has emerged as a promising non-invasive technique to enhance drug delivery to the brain. This manuscript reviews fundamental principles of ultrasound-based techniques and their mechanisms of action in temporarily permeabilizing the BBB. Clinical trials employing ultrasound for BBB disruption are discussed, summarizing diverse applications ranging from the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases to targeted drug delivery for brain tumors. The review also addresses safety considerations, outlining the current understanding of potential risks and mitigation strategies associated with ultrasound exposure, including real-time monitoring and assessment of treatment efficacy. Among the large number of studies, significant successes are highlighted thus providing perspective on the future direction of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip G Durham
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Rizk Alghorazi
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Gianmarco Pinton
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Vibhor Krishna
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
| | - Paul A Dayton
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Conway GE, Paranjape AN, Chen X, Villanueva FS. Development of an In Vitro Model to Study Mechanisms of Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Cavitation-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Opening. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2024; 50:425-433. [PMID: 38158246 PMCID: PMC10843834 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2023.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ultrasound-targeted microbubble cavitation (UTMC)-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening is being explored as a method to increase drug delivery to the brain. This strategy has progressed to clinical trials for various neurological disorders, but the underlying cellular mechanisms are incompletely understood. In the study described here, a contact co-culture transwell model of the BBB was developed that can be used to determine the signaling cascade leading to increased BBB permeability. METHODS This BBB model consists of bEnd.3 cells and C8-D1A astrocytes seeded on opposite sides of a transwell membrane. Pulsed ultrasound (US) is applied to lipid microbubbles (MBs), and the change in barrier permeability is measured via transendothelial electrical resistance and dextran flux. Live cell calcium imaging (Fluo-4 AM) is performed during UTMC treatment. RESULTS This model exhibits important features of the BBB, including endothelial tight junctions, and is more restrictive than the endothelial cell (EC) monolayer alone. When US is applied to MBs in contact with the ECs, BBB permeability increases in this model by two mechanisms: UTMC induces pore formation in the EC membrane (sonoporation), leading to increased transcellular permeability, and UTMC causes formation of reversible inter-endothelial gaps, which increases paracellular permeability. Additionally, this study determines that calcium influx into ECs mediates the increase in BBB permeability after UTMC in this model. CONCLUSION Both transcellular and paracellular permeability can be used to increase drug delivery to the brain. Future studies can use this model to determine how UTMC-induced calcium-mediated signaling increases BBB permeability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace E Conway
- Center for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anurag N Paranjape
- Center for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Xucai Chen
- Center for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Flordeliza S Villanueva
- Center for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Mwema A, Muccioli GG, des Rieux A. Innovative drug delivery strategies to the CNS for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. J Control Release 2023; 364:435-457. [PMID: 37926243 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.10.052] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), such as multiple sclerosis (MS) represent a great emotional, financial and social burden. Despite intense efforts, great unmet medical needs remain in that field. MS is an autoimmune, chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease with no curative treatment up to date. The current therapies mostly act in the periphery and seek to modulate aberrant immune responses as well as slow down the progression of the disease. Some of these therapies are associated with adverse effects related partly to their administration route and show some limitations due to their rapid clearance and inability to reach the CNS. The scientific community have recently focused their research on developing MS therapies targeting different processes within the CNS. However, delivery of therapeutics to the CNS is mainly limited by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop new drug delivery strategies that ensure CNS availability to capitalize on identified therapeutic targets. Several approaches have been developed to overcome or bypass the BBB and increase delivery of therapeutics to the CNS. Among these strategies, the use of alternative routes of administration, such as the nose-to-brain (N2B) pathway, offers a promising non-invasive option in the scope of MS, as it would allow a direct transport of the drugs from the nasal cavity to the brain. Moreover, the combination of bioactive molecules within nanocarriers bring forth new opportunities for MS therapies, allowing and/or increasing their transport to the CNS. Here we will review and discuss these alternative administration routes as well as the nanocarrier approaches useful to deliver drugs for MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Mwema
- Université catholique de Louvain, UCLouvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, Avenue E. Mounier 73, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; Université catholique de Louvain, UCLouvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Bioanalysis and Pharmacology of Bioactive Lipids, Avenue E. Mounier 72, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Giulio G Muccioli
- Université catholique de Louvain, UCLouvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Bioanalysis and Pharmacology of Bioactive Lipids, Avenue E. Mounier 72, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Anne des Rieux
- Université catholique de Louvain, UCLouvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, Avenue E. Mounier 73, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
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Jourdain R, Chivukula VK, Bashur CA. Modeling Gasotransmitter Availability to Brain Capillary Endothelial Cells with Ultrasound-sensitive Microbubbles. Pharm Res 2023; 40:2399-2411. [PMID: 37783924 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-023-03606-w] [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: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia results from blood components passing through disrupted blood brain barriers (BBBs). Current treatments can reduce further progress of neuronal damage but do not treat the primary cause. Instead, these treatments typically aim to temporarily disrupt the BBB. Alternatively, this study computationally assessed the feasibility of delivering carbon monoxide (CO) from ultrasound-sensitive microbubbles (MBs) as a strategy to promote BBB repair and integrity. CO can interact with heme-containing compounds within cells and promote cell growth. However, careful dose control is critical for safety and efficacy because CO also binds at high affinity to hemoglobin (Hb). METHODS Ultrasound activation was simulated at the internal carotid artery, and CO released from the resulting MB rupture was tracked along the shortest path to the BBB for several activation times and doses. The CO dose available to brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) was predicted by considering hemodynamics, mass transport, and binding kinetics. RESULTS The half-life of CO binding to Hb indicated that CO is available to interact with BCECs for several cardiac cycles. Further, MB and COHb concentrations would not be near toxic levels and free Hb would be available. The axisymmetric model indicated that biologically-relevant CO concentrations will be available to BCECs, and these levels can be sustained with controlled ultrasound activation. A patient-specific geometry shows that while vessel tortuosity provides a heterogeneous response, a relevant CO concentration could still be achieved. CONCLUSIONS This computational study demonstrates feasibility of the CO / MB strategy, and that controlled delivery is important for viability of this strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubens Jourdain
- Department of Biomedical, Chemical Engineering and Science, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Blvd., Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - Venkat Keshav Chivukula
- Department of Biomedical, Chemical Engineering and Science, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Blvd., Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - Chris A Bashur
- Department of Biomedical, Chemical Engineering and Science, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Blvd., Melbourne, FL, USA.
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Parks TV, Szuzupak D, Choi SH, Alikaya A, Mou Y, Silva AC, Schaeffer DJ. Noninvasive disruption of the blood-brain barrier in the marmoset monkey. Commun Biol 2023; 6:806. [PMID: 37532791 PMCID: PMC10397190 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05185-3] [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: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The common marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) is a species of rising prominence in the neurosciences due to its small size, ease of handling, fast breeding, and its shared functional and structural brain characteristics with Old World primates. With increasing attention on modeling human brain diseases in marmosets, understanding how to deliver therapeutic or neurotropic agents to the marmoset brain noninvasively is of great preclinical importance. In other species, including humans, transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) aided by intravenously injected microbubbles has proven to be a transient, reliable, and safe method for disrupting the blood-brain barrier (BBB), allowing the focal passage of therapeutic agents that do not otherwise readily traverse the tight endothelial junctions of the BBB. The critical gap that we address here is to document parameters to disrupt the BBB reliably and safely in marmosets using tFUS. By integrating our marmoset brain atlases and the use of a marmoset-specific stereotactic targeting system, we conduct a series of systematic transcranial sonication experiments in nine marmosets. We demonstrate the effects of center frequency, acoustic pressure, burst period, and duration, establish a minimum microbubble dose, estimate microbubble clearance time, and estimate the duration that the BBB remains open to passage. Successful BBB disruption is reported in vivo with MRI-based contrast agents, as well as Evans blue staining assessed ex vivo. Histology (Hematoxylin and Eosin staining) and immunohistochemistry indicate that the BBB can be safely and reliably opened with the parameters derived from these experiments. The series of experiments presented here establish methods for safely, reproducibly, and focally perturbing the BBB using tFUS in the common marmoset monkey that can serve as a basis for noninvasive delivery of therapeutic or neurotropic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Vincenza Parks
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Diego Szuzupak
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sang-Ho Choi
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Aydin Alikaya
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yongshan Mou
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Afonso C Silva
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David J Schaeffer
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Margolis R, Basavarajappa L, Li J, Obaid G, Hoyt K. Image-guided focused ultrasound-mediated molecular delivery to breast cancer in an animal model. Phys Med Biol 2023; 68:10.1088/1361-6560/ace23d. [PMID: 37369225 PMCID: PMC10439523 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ace23d] [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: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Tumors become inoperable due to their size or location, making neoadjuvant chemotherapy the primary treatment. However, target tissue accumulation of anticancer agents is limited by the physical barriers of the tumor microenvironment. Low-intensity focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with microbubble (MB) contrast agents can increase microvascular permeability and improve drug delivery to the target tissue after systemic administration. The goal of this research was to investigate image-guided FUS-mediated molecular delivery in volume space. Three-dimensional (3-D) FUS therapy functionality was implemented on a programmable ultrasound scanner (Vantage 256, Verasonics Inc.) equipped with a linear array for image guidance and a 128-element therapy transducer (HIFUPlex-06, Sonic Concepts). FUS treatment was performed on breast cancer-bearing female mice (N= 25). Animals were randomly divided into three groups, namely, 3-D FUS therapy, two-dimensional (2-D) FUS therapy, or sham (control) therapy. Immediately prior to the application of FUS therapy, animals received a slow bolus injection of MBs (Definity, Lantheus Medical Imaging Inc.) and near-infrared dye (IR-780, surrogate drug) for optical reporting and quantification of molecular delivery. Dye accumulation was monitored viain vivooptical imaging at 0, 1, 24, and 48 h (Pearl Trilogy, LI-COR). Following the 48 h time point, animals were humanely euthanized and tumors excised forex vivoanalyzes. Optical imaging results revealed that 3-D FUS therapy improved delivery of the IR-780 dye by 66.4% and 168.1% at 48 h compared to 2-D FUS (p= 0.18) and sham (p= 0.047) therapeutic strategies, respectively.Ex vivoanalysis revealed similar trends. Overall, 3-D FUS therapy can improve accumulation of a surrogate drug throughout the entire target tumor burden after systemic administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Margolis
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America
| | - Lokesh Basavarajappa
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America
| | - Junjie Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America
| | - Girgis Obaid
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America
| | - Kenneth Hoyt
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America
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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.
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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
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10
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Truong LB, Medina-Cruz D, Mostafavi E. Current state of RNA delivery using lipid nanoparticles to extrahepatic tissues: A review towards clinical translation. Int J Biol Macromol 2023:125185. [PMID: 37276899 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Genetic medicine, including ribonucleic acid (RNA) therapy, has delivered numerous progresses to the treatment of diseases thanks to the development of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as a delivery vehicle. However, RNA therapeutics are still limited by the lack of safe, precise, and efficient delivery outside of the liver. Thus, to fully realize the potential of genetic medicine, strategies to arm LNPs with extrahepatic targeting capabilities are urgently needed. This review explores the current state of next-generation LNPs that can bring RNA biomolecules to their targeted organ. The main approaches commonly used are described, including the modulation of internal lipid chemistries, the use of conjugated targeting moieties, and the designs of clinical administration. This work will demonstrate the advances in each approach and the remaining challenges in the field, focusing on clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linh B Truong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David Medina-Cruz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ebrahim Mostafavi
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Delgado S, Curiel L, Li S, Pichardo S. Higher harmonics dynamic focalization in single-element ring transducers using biaxial driving. ULTRASONICS 2023; 133:107051. [PMID: 37276698 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2023.107051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Biaxial driving is a new driving technique that allows the steering of the ultrasound field generated by a single-element piezoceramic transducer. Because of their natural axisymmetric geometry, ultrasound generation with ring transducers can take advantage of the biaxial driving to change the focus of the beam generated by this type of transducer using only two driving signals. In this study, we applied the biaxial driving technique into a single-element PZT ring transducer operating at 500 kHz to produce a change in size and position of the focal spot while using the 1st (482 kHz), 3rd (1.362 MHz) and 5th (2.62 MHz) harmonic excitation. The transducer had a thickness of 2.85 mm, an inner diameter of 9.75 mm and a ring width of 2.0 mm, and two pairs of electrodes as required for biaxial driving. Simulation and experimental results showed that both the focal area and the distance at which the focal area centre was located changed as a function of the phase and power difference between the two driving signals. Experimental results showed that the focal area could be reduced from 31.6 mm2 (conventional driving) to 3.4 mm2 (89 % reduction) when using the first harmonic excitation. For the third harmonic, the focal area could be reduced from 4.0 mm2 (conventional driving) to 3.3 mm2 (17.5 % reduction). For the fifth harmonic, the focal area could be reduced from 1.7 mm2 (conventional driving) to 1 mm2 (41.7 % reduction). Results also demonstrated the centre of the focus could be displaced between 3.0 mm and 9.3 mm from the surface of the transducer when using the first harmonic, between 7.3 mm and 8.4 mm at the third harmonic, and between 4.9 mm and 8.2 mm at the fifth harmonic. The reduction in the focus area, as well as the possibility to displace the focus dynamically will be advantageous for preclinical applications of focused ultrasound, especially on drug delivery and neuromodulation studies in small rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagid Delgado
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
| | - Laura Curiel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
| | - Siyun Li
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
| | - Samuel Pichardo
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
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Rao R, Patel A, Hanchate K, Robinson E, Edwards A, Shah S, Higgins D, Haworth KJ, Lucke-Wold B, Pomeranz Krummel D, Sengupta S. Advances in Focused Ultrasound for the Treatment of Brain Tumors. Tomography 2023; 9:1094-1109. [PMID: 37368542 DOI: 10.3390/tomography9030090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Employing the full arsenal of therapeutics to treat brain tumors is limited by the relative impermeability of the blood-brain and blood-tumor barriers. In physiologic states, the blood-brain barrier serves a protective role by passively and actively excluding neurotoxic compounds; however, this functionality limits the penetrance of therapeutics into the tumor microenvironment. Focused ultrasound technology provides a method for overcoming the blood-brain and blood-tumor barriers through ultrasound frequency to transiently permeabilize or disrupt these barriers. Concomitant delivery of therapeutics has allowed for previously impermeable agents to reach the tumor microenvironment. This review details the advances in focused ultrasound in both preclinical models and clinical studies, with a focus on its safety profile. We then turn towards future directions in focused ultrasound-mediated therapies for brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan Rao
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Anjali Patel
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - Kunal Hanchate
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - Eric Robinson
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - Aniela Edwards
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - Sanjit Shah
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Dominique Higgins
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kevin J Haworth
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Brandon Lucke-Wold
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - Daniel Pomeranz Krummel
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Soma Sengupta
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
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Kagami S, Kanagawa T. Weakly nonlinear focused ultrasound in viscoelastic media containing multiple bubbles. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2023; 97:106455. [PMID: 37271029 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
To facilitate practical medical applications such as cancer treatment utilizing focused ultrasound and bubbles, a mathematical model that can describe the soft viscoelasticity of human body, the nonlinear propagation of focused ultrasound, and the nonlinear oscillations of multiple bubbles is theoretically derived and numerically solved. The Zener viscoelastic model and Keller-Miksis bubble equation, which have been used for analyses of single or few bubbles in viscoelastic liquid, are used to model the liquid containing multiple bubbles. From the theoretical analysis based on the perturbation expansion with the multiple-scales method, the Khokhlov-Zabolotskaya-Kuznetsov (KZK) equation, which has been used as a mathematical model of weakly nonlinear propagation in single phase liquid, is extended to viscoelastic liquid containing multiple bubbles. The results show that liquid elasticity decreases the magnitudes of the nonlinearity, dissipation, and dispersion of ultrasound and increases the phase velocity of the ultrasound and linear natural frequency of the bubble oscillation. From the numerical calculation of resultant KZK equation, the spatial distribution of the liquid pressure fluctuation for the focused ultrasound is obtained for cases in which the liquid is water or liver tissue. In addition, frequency analysis is carried out using the fast Fourier transform, and the generation of higher harmonic components is compared for water and liver tissue. The elasticity supresses the generation of higher harmonic components and promotes the remnant of the fundamental frequency components. This indicates that the elasticity of liquid suppresses shock wave formation in practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Kagami
- Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, Degree Program of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8573, Japan.
| | - Tetsuya Kanagawa
- Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, Degree Program of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8573, Japan.
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Antoniou A, Nikolaou A, Georgiou A, Evripidou N, Damianou C. Development of an US, MRI, and CT imaging compatible realistic mouse phantom for thermal ablation and focused ultrasound evaluation. ULTRASONICS 2023; 131:106955. [PMID: 36854247 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2023.106955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Tissue mimicking phantoms (TMPs) play an essential role in modern biomedical research as cost-effective quality assurance and training tools, simultaneously contributing to the reduction of animal use. Herein, we present the development and evaluation of an anatomically accurate mouse phantom intended for image-guided thermal ablation and Focused Ultrasound (FUS) applications. The proposed mouse model consists of skeletal and soft tissue mimics, whose design was based on the Computed tomography (CT) scans data of a live mouse. Advantageously, it is compatible with US, CT, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The compatibility assessment was focused on the radiological behavior of the phantom due to the lack of relevant literature. The X-ray linear attenuation coefficient of candidate materials was estimated to assess the one that matches best the radiological behavior of living tissues. The bone part was manufactured by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printing using Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) material. For the soft-tissue mimic, a special mold was 3D printed having a cavity with the unique shape of the mouse body and filled with an agar-based silica-doped gel. The mouse phantom accurately matched the size and reproduced the body surface of the imaged mouse. Tissue-equivalency in terms of X-ray attenuation was demonstrated for the agar-based soft-tissue mimic. The phantom demonstrated excellent MRI visibility of the skeletal and soft-tissue mimics. Good radiological contrast between the skeletal and soft-tissue models was also observed in the CT scans. The model was also able to reproduce realistic behavior during trans-skull sonication as proved by thermocouple measurements. Overall, the proposed phantom is inexpensive, ergonomic, and realistic. It could constitute a powerful tool for image-guided thermal ablation and FUS studies in terms of testing and optimizing the performance of relevant equipment and protocols. It also possess great potential for use in transcranial FUS applications, including the emerging topic of FUS-mediated blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Antoniou
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Informatics, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
| | - Anastasia Nikolaou
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Informatics, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
| | - Andreas Georgiou
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Informatics, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
| | - Nikolas Evripidou
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Informatics, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
| | - Christakis Damianou
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Informatics, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
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Smith MR, Khan S, Curiel L. Comparing Phantom and Animal Metrics Applied in the Determination of Focused Ultrasound Stable and Inertial Cavitation Levels. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2023; 49:1118-1128. [PMID: 36732151 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2022.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to allow therapeutic drug passage can be achieved by inducing microbubble cavitation using focused ultrasound (FUS). This approach can be monitored through analysis of the received signal to distinguish between stable cavitation associated with safe BBB opening and inertial cavitation associated with blood vessel damage. In this study, FUS phantom and animal studies were used to evaluate the experimental conditions that generate several cross-consistent metrics having the potential to be combined for the reliable, automatic control of cavitation levels. METHODS Typical metrics for cavitation monitoring involve observing changes in the spectrum generated by applying the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) to the time domain signal detected using a hydrophone during FUS. A confocal hydrophone was used to capture emissions during a 10 ms FUS burst, sampled at 32 ns intervals, to produce 321,500 points and a high-resolution spectrum when transformed. The FUS spectra were analyzed to show the impact that equipment-transients and well-known DFT-related distortions had on the metrics used for cavitation control. A new approach, physical sparsification (PH-SP), was introduced to sharpen FUS spectral peaks and minimize the effect of these distortions. DISCUSSION It was demonstrated that the general spectral signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) could be improved by removing the initial noisy phantom hydrophone signal transient. Minor changes in the transient length digitally removed from the sampled values significantly changed the spectral bandwidths of all the harmonically related FUS signals. We evaluated signal processing techniques to minimize the impact these DFT-related distortions on area-under-the-curve (AUC) metric calculations, and we identified the advantages of using PH-SP and proposed new metrics when characterizing FUS spectral properties. The results show many second, third and sub-harmonic metrics provide cross-consistent evidence of changes between stable and inertial cavitation levels. Removing the first harmonic signal component with a hardware low-pass filter allowed the hydrophone gain to be boosted without introducing distortion, leading to an improved analysis of the sub-harmonic signal orders of magnitude smaller in intensity. Metrics that optimized the energy in the real component of the complex-valued PH-SP spectra provided a 32% increase in the sub-harmonic sensitivity compared to standard metrics. CONCLUSION A preliminary investigation of existing and proposed metrics showed that system noise could be large enough to mask the transition between stable and inertial cavitation. Strong narrowing of sub-harmonic peak shapes on applying physical sparsification (PH-SP) were seen in both phantom and animal studies. However, validating equivalent trends of the metrics with pressure were limited by the increased system noise level in the animal study combined with the natural variability between subjects studied. The combined use of hardware low-pass filters and physical sparsification to selectively removing distortions in the spectrum allowed the optimization of metrics for cavitation monitoring by improving the sub-harmonic sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Smith
- Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Sonia Khan
- Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Laura Curiel
- Department of Biometrical Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Lim Kee Chang W, Chan TG, Raguseo F, Mishra A, Chattenton D, de Rosales RTM, Long NJ, Morse SV. Rapid short-pulses of focused ultrasound and microbubbles deliver a range of agent sizes to the brain. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6963. [PMID: 37117169 PMCID: PMC10147927 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33671-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Focused ultrasound and microbubbles can non-invasively and locally deliver therapeutics and imaging agents across the blood-brain barrier. Uniform treatment and minimal adverse bioeffects are critical to achieve reliable doses and enable safe routine use of this technique. Towards these aims, we have previously designed a rapid short-pulse ultrasound sequence and used it to deliver a 3 kDa model agent to mouse brains. We observed a homogeneous distribution in delivery and blood-brain barrier closing within 10 min. However, many therapeutics and imaging agents are larger than 3 kDa, such as antibody fragments and antisense oligonucleotides. Here, we evaluate the feasibility of using rapid short-pulses to deliver higher-molecular-weight model agents. 3, 10 and 70 kDa dextrans were successfully delivered to mouse brains, with decreasing doses and more heterogeneous distributions with increasing agent size. Minimal extravasation of endogenous albumin (66.5 kDa) was observed, while immunoglobulin (~ 150 kDa) and PEGylated liposomes (97.9 nm) were not detected. This study indicates that rapid short-pulses are versatile and, at an acoustic pressure of 0.35 MPa, can deliver therapeutics and imaging agents of sizes up to a hydrodynamic diameter between 8 nm (70 kDa dextran) and 11 nm (immunoglobulin). Increasing the acoustic pressure can extend the use of rapid short-pulses to deliver agents beyond this threshold, with little compromise on safety. This study demonstrates the potential for deliveries of higher-molecular-weight therapeutics and imaging agents using rapid short-pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Lim Kee Chang
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2BP, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Tiffany G Chan
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2BP, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Federica Raguseo
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Aishwarya Mishra
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, SW1 7EH, UK
| | - Dani Chattenton
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2BP, UK
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London, SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Rafael T M de Rosales
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, SW1 7EH, UK
| | - Nicholas J Long
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Sophie V Morse
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2BP, UK.
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Da Ros V, Oddo L, Toumia Y, Guida E, Minosse S, Strigari L, Strolin S, Paolani G, Di Giuliano F, Floris R, Garaci F, Dolci S, Paradossi G, Domenici F. PVA-Microbubbles as a Radioembolization Platform: Formulation and the In Vitro Proof of Concept. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15010217. [PMID: 36678846 PMCID: PMC9862136 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
This proof-of-concept study lays the foundations for the development of a delivery strategy for radioactive lanthanides, such as Yttrium-90, against recurrent glioblastoma. Our appealing hypothesis is that by taking advantage of the combination of biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microbubbles (MBs) and endovascular radiopharmaceutical infusion, a minimally invasive selective radioembolization can be achieved, which can lead to personalized treatments limiting off-target toxicities for the normal brain. The results show the successful formulation strategy that turns the ultrasound contrast PVA-shelled microbubbles into a microdevice, exhibiting good loading efficiency of Yttrium cargo by complexation with a bifunctional chelator. The selective targeting of Yttrium-loaded MBs on the glioblastoma-associated tumor endothelial cells can be unlocked by the biorecognition between the overexpressed αVβ3 integrin and the ligand Cyclo(Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe-Lys) at the PVA microbubble surface. Hence, we show the suitability of PVA MBs as selective Y-microdevices for in situ injection via the smallest (i.e., 1.2F) neurointerventional microcatheter available on the market and the accumulation of PVA MBs on the HUVEC cell line model of integrin overexpression, thereby providing ~6 × 10-15 moles of Y90 per HUVEC cell. We further discuss the potential impact of using such versatile PVA MBs as a new therapeutic chance for treating glioblastoma multiforme recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Da Ros
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Hospital of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Letizia Oddo
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Yosra Toumia
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenia Guida
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Hospital of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Minosse
- UOC Diagnostica per Immagini, University Hospital of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Lidia Strigari
- Department of Medical Physics, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero—Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Strolin
- Department of Medical Physics, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero—Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Paolani
- Department of Medical Physics, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero—Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Giuliano
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Hospital of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Floris
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Hospital of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Garaci
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Hospital of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Susanna Dolci
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Hospital of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Gaio Paradossi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Domenici
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Cheng X, Xie Q, Sun Y. Advances in nanomaterial-based targeted drug delivery systems. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1177151. [PMID: 37122851 PMCID: PMC10133513 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1177151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems (NBDDS) are widely used to improve the safety and therapeutic efficacy of encapsulated drugs due to their unique physicochemical and biological properties. By combining therapeutic drugs with nanoparticles using rational targeting pathways, nano-targeted delivery systems were created to overcome the main drawbacks of conventional drug treatment, including insufficient stability and solubility, lack of transmembrane transport, short circulation time, and undesirable toxic effects. Herein, we reviewed the recent developments in different targeting design strategies and therapeutic approaches employing various nanomaterial-based systems. We also discussed the challenges and perspectives of smart systems in precisely targeting different intravascular and extravascular diseases.
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19
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Nanomedicine approaches for medulloblastoma therapy. JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL INVESTIGATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40005-022-00597-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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20
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Arsiwala TA, Sprowls SA, Blethen KE, Fladeland RA, Wolford CP, Kielkowski BN, Glass MJ, Wang P, Wilson O, Carpenter JS, Ranjan M, Finomore V, Rezai A, Lockman PR. Characterization of passive permeability after low intensity focused ultrasound mediated blood-brain barrier disruption in a preclinical model. Fluids Barriers CNS 2022; 19:72. [PMID: 36076213 PMCID: PMC9461249 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-022-00369-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic drug delivery to the central nervous system is limited by presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Low intensity focused ultrasound (LiFUS) is a non-invasive technique to disrupt the BBB, though there is a lack of understanding of the relationship between LiFUS parameters, such as cavitation dose, time of sonication, microbubble dose, and the time course and magnitude of BBB disruption. Discrepancies in these data arise from experimentation with modified, clinically untranslatable transducers and inconsistent parameters for sonication. In this report, we characterize microbubble and cavitation doses as LiFUS variables as they pertain to the time course and size of BBB opening with a clinical Insightec FUS system. METHODS Female Nu/Nu athymic mice were exposed to LiFUS using the ExAblate Neuro system (v7.4, Insightec, Haifa, Israel) following target verification with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Microbubble and cavitation doses ranged from 4-400 μL/kg, and 0.1-1.5 cavitation dose, respectively. The time course and magnitude of BBB opening was evaluated using fluorescent tracers, ranging in size from 105-10,000 Da, administered intravenously at different times pre- or post-LiFUS. Quantitative autoradiography and fluorescence microscopy were used to quantify tracer accumulation in brain. RESULTS We observed a microbubble and cavitation dose dependent increase in tracer uptake within brain after LiFUS. Tracer accumulation was size dependent, with 14C-AIB (100 Da) accumulating to a greater degree than larger markers (~ 625 Da-10 kDa). Our data suggest opening of the BBB via LiFUS is time dependent and biphasic. Accumulation of solutes was highest when administered prior to LiFUS mediated disruption (2-fivefold increases), but was also significantly elevated at 6 h post treatment for both 14C-AIB and Texas Red. CONCLUSION The magnitude of LiFUS mediated BBB opening correlates with concentration of microbubbles, cavitation dose as well as time of tracer administration post-sonication. These data help define the window of maximal BBB opening and applicable sonication parameters on a clinically translatable and commercially available FUS system that can be used to improve passive permeability and accumulation of therapeutics targeting the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasneem A. Arsiwala
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, HSC, Morgantown, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
| | - Samuel A. Sprowls
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, HSC, Morgantown, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA ,grid.239578.20000 0001 0675 4725Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106 USA
| | - Kathryn E. Blethen
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, HSC, Morgantown, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
| | - Ross A. Fladeland
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, HSC, Morgantown, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
| | - Cullen P. Wolford
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, HSC, Morgantown, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
| | - Brooke N. Kielkowski
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, HSC, Morgantown, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
| | - Morgan J. Glass
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, HSC, Morgantown, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
| | - Peng Wang
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA
| | - Olivia Wilson
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA
| | - Jeffrey S. Carpenter
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA ,grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Departments of Neuroscience, Neuroradiology, and Neurosurgery, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA
| | - Manish Ranjan
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA ,grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Departments of Neuroscience, Neuroradiology, and Neurosurgery, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA
| | - Victor Finomore
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Departments of Neuroscience, Neuroradiology, and Neurosurgery, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA
| | - Ali Rezai
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA ,grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Departments of Neuroscience, Neuroradiology, and Neurosurgery, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA
| | - Paul R. Lockman
- grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, HSC, Morgantown, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA ,grid.268154.c0000 0001 2156 6140Departments of Neuroscience, Neuroradiology, and Neurosurgery, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA
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Sultana A, Zare M, Thomas V, Kumar TS, Ramakrishna S. Nano-based drug delivery systems: Conventional drug delivery routes, recent developments and future prospects. MEDICINE IN DRUG DISCOVERY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medidd.2022.100134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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22
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Maciulevičius M, Tamošiūnas M, Navickaitė D, Šatkauskas S, Venslauskas MS. Free- and liposomal- doxorubicin delivery via microbubble inertial cavitation. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2022.103386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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23
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Gao X, Xu J, Yao T, Liu X, Zhang H, Zhan C. Peptide-decorated nanocarriers penetrating the blood-brain barrier for imaging and therapy of brain diseases. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 187:114362. [PMID: 35654215 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) is one of the most important physiological barriers strictly restricting the substance exchange between blood and brain tissues. While the BBB protects the brain from infections and toxins and maintains brain homeostasis, it is also recognized as the main obstacle to the penetration of therapeutics and imaging agents into the brain. Due to high specificity and affinity, peptides are frequently exploited to decorate nanocarriers across the BBB for diagnosis and/or therapy purposes. However, there are still some challenges that restrict their clinical application, such as stability, safety and immunocompatibility. In this review, we summarize the biological and pathophysiological characteristics of the BBB, strategies across the BBB, and recent progress on peptide decorated nanocarriers for brain diseases diagnosis and therapy. The challenges and opportunities for their translation are also discussed.
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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.
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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
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Hersh AM, Alomari S, Tyler BM. Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier: Advances in Nanoparticle Technology for Drug Delivery in Neuro-Oncology. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4153. [PMID: 35456971 PMCID: PMC9032478 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) constitutes a microvascular network responsible for excluding most drugs from the brain. Treatment of brain tumors is limited by the impermeability of the BBB and, consequently, survival outcomes for malignant brain tumors remain poor. Nanoparticles (NPs) represent a potential solution to improve drug transport to brain tumors, given their small size and capacity to target tumor cells. Here, we review the unique physical and chemical properties of NPs that aid in BBB transport and discuss mechanisms of NP transport across the BBB, including paracellular transport, carrier-mediated transport, and adsorptive- and receptor-mediated transcytosis. The major types of NPs investigated for treatment of brain tumors are detailed, including polymeric NPs, liposomes, solid lipid NPs, dendrimers, metals, quantum dots, and nanogels. In addition to their role in drug delivery, NPs can be used as imaging contrast agents and can be conjugated with imaging probes to assist in visualizing tumors, demarcating lesion boundaries and margins, and monitoring drug delivery and treatment response. Multifunctional NPs can be designed that are capable of targeting tumors for both imaging and therapeutic purposes. Finally, limitations of NPs for brain tumor treatment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Betty M. Tyler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (A.M.H.); (S.A.)
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Stefani A, Pierantozzi M, Cardarelli S, Stefani L, Cerroni R, Conti M, Garasto E, Mercuri NB, Marini C, Sucapane P. Neurotrophins as Therapeutic Agents for Parkinson’s Disease; New Chances From Focused Ultrasound? Front Neurosci 2022; 16:846681. [PMID: 35401084 PMCID: PMC8990810 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.846681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic Resonance–guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) represents an effective micro-lesioning approach to target pharmaco-resistant tremor, mostly in patients afflicted by essential tremor (ET) and/or Parkinson’s disease (PD). So far, experimental protocols are verifying the clinical extension to other facets of the movement disorder galaxy (i.e., internal pallidus for disabling dyskinesias). Aside from those neurosurgical options, one of the most intriguing opportunities of this technique relies on its capability to remedy the impermeability of blood–brain barrier (BBB). Temporary BBB opening through low-intensity focused ultrasound turned out to be safe and feasible in patients with PD, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. As a mere consequence of the procedures, some groups described even reversible but significant mild cognitive amelioration, up to hippocampal neurogenesis partially associated to the increased of endogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). A further development elevates MRgFUS to the status of therapeutic tool for drug delivery of putative neurorestorative therapies. Since 2012, FUS-assisted intravenous administration of BDNF or neurturin allowed hippocampal or striatal delivery. Experimental studies emphasized synergistic modalities. In a rodent model for Huntington’s disease, engineered liposomes can carry glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plasmid DNA (GDNFp) to form a GDNFp-liposome (GDNFp-LPs) complex through pulsed FUS exposures with microbubbles; in a subacute MPTP-PD model, the combination of intravenous administration of neurotrophic factors (either through protein or gene delivery) plus FUS did curb nigrostriatal degeneration. Here, we explore these arguments, focusing on the current, translational application of neurotrophins in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Stefani
- Department of System Medicine, Parkinson Center, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alessandro Stefani,
| | | | - Silvia Cardarelli
- Department of System Medicine, Parkinson Center, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Stefani
- Department of System Medicine, Parkinson Center, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Cerroni
- Department of System Medicine, Parkinson Center, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Conti
- Department of System Medicine, UOC Neurology, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Garasto
- Department of System Medicine, UOC Neurology, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola B. Mercuri
- Department of System Medicine, UOC Neurology, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Marini
- UOC Neurology and Stroke Unit, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
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Roberts JW, Powlovich L, Sheybani N, LeBlang S. Focused ultrasound for the treatment of glioblastoma. J Neurooncol 2022; 157:237-247. [PMID: 35267132 PMCID: PMC9021052 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-022-03974-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Six years ago, in 2015, the Focused Ultrasound Foundation sponsored a workshop to discuss, and subsequently transition the landscape, of focused ultrasound as a new therapy for treating glioblastoma. Methods This year, in 2021, a second workshop was held to review progress made in the field. Discussion topics included blood–brain barrier opening, thermal and nonthermal tumor ablation, immunotherapy, sonodynamic therapy, and desired focused ultrasound device improvements. Results The outcome of the 2021 workshop was the creation of a new roadmap to address knowledge gaps and reduce the time it takes for focused ultrasound to become part of the treatment armamentarium and reach clinical adoption for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma. Priority projects identified in the roadmap include determining a well-defined algorithm to confirm and quantify drug delivery following blood–brain barrier opening, identifying a focused ultrasound-specific microbubble, exploring the role of focused ultrasound for liquid biopsy in glioblastoma, and making device modifications that better support clinical needs. Conclusion This article reviews the key preclinical and clinical updates from the workshop, outlines next steps to research, and provides relevant references for focused ultrasound in the treatment of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill W Roberts
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation, 1230 Cedars Court, Suite 206, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA.
| | - Lauren Powlovich
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation, 1230 Cedars Court, Suite 206, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - Natasha Sheybani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Suzanne LeBlang
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation, 1230 Cedars Court, Suite 206, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
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Librizzi L, Uva L, Raspagliesi L, Gionso M, Regondi MC, Durando G, DiMeco F, de Curtis M, Prada F. Ultrasounds induce blood–brain barrier opening across a sonolucent polyolefin plate in an in vitro isolated brain preparation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2906. [PMID: 35190597 PMCID: PMC8861168 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06791-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) represents a major obstacle to the delivery of drugs to the central nervous system. The combined use of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound waves and intravascular microbubbles (MB) represents a promising solution to this issue, allowing reversible disruption of the barrier. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of BBB opening through a biocompatible, polyolefin-based plate in an in vitro whole brain model. Twelve in vitro guinea pig brains were employed; brains were insonated using a planar transducer with or without interposing the polyolefin plate during arterial infusion of MB. Circulating MBs were visualized with an ultrasonographic device with a linear probe. BBB permeabilization was assessed by quantifying at confocal microscopy the extravasation of FITC-albumin perfused after each treatment. US-treated brains displayed BBB permeabilization exclusively in the volume under the US beam; no significant differences were observed between brains insonated with or without the polyolefin plate. Control brains not perfused with MB did not show signs of FITC-albumin extravasation. Our preclinical study suggests that polyolefin cranial plate could be implanted as a skull replacement to maintain craniotomic windows and perform post-surgical repeated BBB opening with ultrasound guidance to deliver therapeutic agents to the central nervous system.
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Cheng B, Bing C, Chu TH, Alzahrani S, Pichardo S, Pike GB. Simultaneous Localized Brain Mild Hyperthermia and Blood-Brain Barrier Opening via Feedback-Controlled Transcranial MR-guided Focused Ultrasound and Microbubbles. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2021; 69:1880-1888. [PMID: 34813464 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2021.3130164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Non-invasive methods to enhance drug delivery and efficacy in the brain have been pursued for decades. Focused ultrasound hyperthermia (HT) combined with thermosensitive therapeutics have been demonstrated promising in enhancing local drug delivery to solid tumors. We hypothesized that the presence of microbubbles (MBs) combined with transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) could be used to reduce the ultrasound power required for HT while simultaneously increasing drug delivery by locally opening the blood-brain barrier (BBB). METHODS Transcranial HT (42 C, 10 min) was performed in wild-type mice using a small animal MRgFUS system incorporated into a 9.4T Bruker MR scanner, with infusions of saline or Definity MBs with doses of 20 or 100 l/kg/min (denoted as MB-20 and MB-100). MR thermometry data was continuously acquired as feedback for the ultrasound controller during the procedure. RESULTS Spatiotemporally precise transcranial HT was achieved in both saline and MB groups. A significant ultrasound power reduction (-45.7%, p = 0.006) was observed in the MB-20 group compared to saline. Localized BBB opening was achieved in MB groups confirmed by CE-T1w MR images. There were no structural abnormalities, edema, hemorrhage, or acute microglial activation in all groups, confirmed by T2w MR imaging and histology. CONCLUSION Our investigations showed that it is feasible and safe to achieve spatiotemporally precise brain HT at significantly reduced power and simultaneous localized BBB opening via transcranial MRgFUS and MBs. SIGNIFICANCE This study provides a new synergistic brain drug delivery method with clinical translation potential.
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30
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Ultrasound-Enabled Therapeutic Delivery and Regenerative Medicine: Physical and Biological Perspectives. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:4371-4387. [PMID: 34460238 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The role of ultrasound in medicine and biological sciences is expanding rapidly beyond its use in conventional diagnostic imaging. Numerous studies have reported the effects of ultrasound on cellular and tissue physiology. Advances in instrumentation and electronics have enabled successful in vivo applications of therapeutic ultrasound. Despite path breaking advances in understanding the biophysical and biological mechanisms at both microscopic and macroscopic scales, there remain substantial gaps. With the progression of research in this area, it is important to take stock of the current understanding of the field and to highlight important areas for future work. We present herein key developments in the biological applications of ultrasound especially in the context of nanoparticle delivery, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. We conclude with a brief perspective on the current promise, limitations, and future directions for interfacing ultrasound technology with biological systems, which could provide guidance for future investigations in this interdisciplinary area.
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31
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Ji R, Karakatsani ME, Burgess M, Smith M, Murillo MF, Konofagou EE. Cavitation-modulated inflammatory response following focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier opening. J Control Release 2021; 337:458-471. [PMID: 34324895 PMCID: PMC8440441 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.07.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with systemically injected microbubbles can be used to non-invasively open the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in targeted regions for a variety of therapeutic applications. Over the past two decades, preclinical research into the safety and efficacy of FUS-induced BBB opening has proven this technique to be transient and efficacious, propelling FUS-induced BBB opening into several clinical trials in recent years. However, as clinical trials further progress, the neuroinflammatory response to FUS-induced BBB opening needs to be better understood. In this study, we provide further insight into the relationship of microbubble cavitation and the resulting innate immune response to FUS-induced BBB opening. By keeping ultrasound parameters fixed (i.e. frequency, pressure, pulse length, etc.), three groups of mice were sonicated using a real-time cavitation controller until a target cavitation dose was reached (1 x 107 V2•s, 5 x 107 V2•s, 1 x 108 V2•s). The change in relative gene expression of the mouse inflammatory cytokines and receptors were evaluated at three different time-points (6 h, 24 h, and 72 h) after FUS. At both 6 and 24 h time-points, significant changes in relative gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and receptors were observed across all cavitation groups. However, the degree of changes in relative expression levels and the number of genes with significant changes in expression varied across the cavitation groups. Groups with a higher cavitation dose exhibited both greater changes in relative expression levels and greater number of significant changes. By 72 h post-opening, the gene expression levels returned to baseline in all cavitation dose groups, signifying a transient inflammatory response to FUS-induced BBB opening at the targeted cavitation dose levels. Furthermore, the real-time cavitation controller was able to produce consistent and significantly different BBB permeability enhancement volumes across the three different cavitation dose groups. These results indicate that cavitation monitoring and controlling during FUS-induced BBB opening can be used to potentially modulate or limit the degree of neuroinflammation, further emphasizing the importance of implementing cavitation controllers as FUS-induced BBB opening is translated into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Ji
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria E Karakatsani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark Burgess
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Morgan Smith
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria F Murillo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisa E Konofagou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Fletcher SMP, Choi M, Ramesh R, O'Reilly MA. Focused Ultrasound-Induced Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier Opening Using Short-Burst Phase-Keying Exposures in Rats: A Parameter Study. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2021; 47:1747-1760. [PMID: 33879388 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Transient opening of the blood-spinal cord barrier has the potential to improve drug delivery options to the spinal cord. We previously developed short-burst phase-keying exposures to reduce focal depth of field and mitigate standing waves in the spinal canal. However, optimal short-burst phase-keying parameters for drug delivery have not been identified. Here, the effects of pressure, treatment duration, pulse length, burst repetition frequency and burst length on resulting tissue effects were investigated. Increased in situ pressures (0.23-0.33 MPa) led to increased post-treatment T1-weighted contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (p = 0.015). Increased treatment duration (120 vs. 300 s) led to increased enhancement, but without statistical significance (p = 0.056). Increased burst repetition frequency (20 vs. 40 kHz) yielded a non-significant increase in enhancement (p = 0.064) but corresponded with increased damage observed on histology. No difference was observed in enhancement between pulse lengths of 2 and 10 ms (p = 0.912), corresponding with a sharp drop in the recorded second harmonic signal during the first 2 ms of the pulse. Increasing the burst length from two to five cycles (514 kHz) led to increased enhancement (p = 0.014). Results indicate that increasing the burst length may be the most effective method to enhance drug delivery. Additionally, shorter pulse lengths may allow more interleaved targets, and therefore a larger treatment volume, within one sonication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stecia-Marie P Fletcher
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Min Choi
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ranjith Ramesh
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Meaghan A O'Reilly
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Gvoic M, Vukmirovic S, Al-Salami H, Mooranian A, Mikov M, Stankov K. Bile acids as novel enhancers of CNS targeting antitumor drugs: a comprehensive review. Pharm Dev Technol 2021; 26:617-633. [PMID: 33882793 DOI: 10.1080/10837450.2021.1916032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Despite a relatively low prevalence of primary brain tumors, they continuously attract scientific interest because of the complexity of their treatment due to their location behind the blood-brain barrier. The main challenge in treatment of brain tumors is not the efficacy of the drugs, per se, but the low efficiency of drug delivery to malignant cells. At the core of the problem is the complex structure of the blood-brain barrier. Nowadays, there is evidence supporting the claim that bile acids have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. That ability can be exploited by taking a part in novel drug carrier designs. Bile acids represent a drug carrier system as a part of a mixed micelle composition, bilosomes and conjugates with various drugs. This review discusses the current knowledge related to bile acid molecules as drug penetration modifying agents, with the focus on central nervous system antitumor drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Gvoic
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical faculty of Novi Sad, University of Novi sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Sasa Vukmirovic
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical faculty of Novi Sad, University of Novi sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Hani Al-Salami
- Biotechnology and Drug Development Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Armin Mooranian
- Biotechnology and Drug Development Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Momir Mikov
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical faculty of Novi Sad, University of Novi sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Karmen Stankov
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical faculty of Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
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