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Yan L, Fu K, Li L, Li Q, Zhou X. Potential of sonobiopsy as a novel diagnosis tool for brain cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY. ONCOLOGY 2024; 32:200840. [PMID: 39077551 PMCID: PMC11284684 DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Brain tumors have a poor prognosis. Early, accurate diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Although brain surgical biopsy can provide an accurate diagnosis, it is highly invasive and risky and is not suitable for follow-up examination. Blood-based liquid biopsies have a low detection rate of tumor biomarkers and limited evaluation ability due to the existence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is composed of brain capillary endothelial cells through tight junctions, which prevents the release of brain tumor markers to the human peripheral circulation, making it more difficult to diagnose, predict prognosis, and evaluate therapeutic response through brain tumor markers than other tumors. Focused ultrasound (FUS)-enabled liquid biopsy (sonobiopsy) is an emerging technique using FUS to promote the release of tumor markers into the circulatory system and cerebrospinal fluid, thus facilitating tumor detection. The feasibility and safety data from both animal models and clinical trials support sonobiopsy as a great potential in the diagnosis of brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yan
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Kang Fu
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Le Li
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Qing Li
- Ultrasound Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital, Xi’an, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhou
- Ultrasound Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital, Xi’an, China
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2
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Singh D, Memari E, He S, Yusefi H, Helfield B. Cardiac gene delivery using ultrasound: State of the field. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101277. [PMID: 38983873 PMCID: PMC11231612 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, there has been tremendous and exciting progress toward extending the use of medical ultrasound beyond a traditional imaging tool. Ultrasound contrast agents, typically used for improved visualization of blood flow, have been explored as novel non-viral gene delivery vectors for cardiovascular therapy. Given this adaptation to ultrasound contrast-enhancing agents, this presents as an image-guided and site-specific gene delivery technique with potential for multi-gene and repeatable delivery protocols-overcoming some of the limitations of alternative gene therapy approaches. In this review, we provide an overview of the studies to date that employ this technique toward cardiac gene therapy using cardiovascular disease animal models and summarize their key findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davindra Singh
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Elahe Memari
- Department of Physics, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Stephanie He
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Hossein Yusefi
- Department of Physics, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Brandon Helfield
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Physics, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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3
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Thanjavur N, Buddolla AL, Bugude L, Buddolla V, Kim YJ. Ultrasonic nanotechnology for the effective management of Staphylococcus aureus skin infections: an update. NANOSCALE 2024. [PMID: 39129708 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr02147a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Ultrasonic nanotechnology represents a groundbreaking advancement in the management of Staphylococcus aureus skin infections, addressing the significant limitations of conventional treatments. S. aureus poses substantial challenges, including antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation, necessitating novel and effective approaches. By harnessing the power of ultrasonic waves and nanostructures, this technology offers a precise mechanism to disrupt bacterial cells, enhancing antibiotic susceptibility and facilitating the eradication of bacterial colonies. This innovative approach not only improves treatment outcomes, but also offers a non-invasive and highly efficient alternative to traditional methods. Recent studies have demonstrated the remarkable efficacy of ultrasonic nanotechnology, showcasing its ability to revolutionize the treatment paradigm for S. aureus infections. Ongoing research is dedicated to refining treatment protocols, developing new nanostructures, and assessing clinical applicability, with a focus on overcoming challenges such as scalability and long-term effectiveness. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of ultrasonic nanotechnology in combating S. aureus skin infections, detailing its mechanism of action, summarizing key research findings, and highlighting its superiority over conventional modalities. Accumulating evidence underscores its potential as a pivotal development in modern science and technology, promising significant advancements in infection management strategies. As research continues to evolve, the optimization of protocols, exploration of innovative applications, and translation into clinical practice are poised to further solidify the transformative impact of ultrasonic nanotechnology in the medical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Thanjavur
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Semiconductor Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Anantha Lakshmi Buddolla
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Semiconductor Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Laxmi Bugude
- Dr Buddolla's Institute of Life Sciences, A Unit of Dr Buddolla's Research and Educational Society, Tirupati - 517506, India.
| | - Viswanath Buddolla
- Dr Buddolla's Institute of Life Sciences, A Unit of Dr Buddolla's Research and Educational Society, Tirupati - 517506, India.
| | - Young-Joon Kim
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Semiconductor Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
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4
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Martinez PJ, Song JJ, Garay FG, Song KH, Mufford T, Steiner J, DeSisto J, Ellens N, Serkova NJ, Green AL, Borden M. Comprehensive assessment of blood-brain barrier opening and sterile inflammatory response: unraveling the therapeutic window. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17036. [PMID: 39043894 PMCID: PMC11266505 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67916-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbubbles (MBs) combined with focused ultrasound (FUS) has emerged as a promising noninvasive technique to permeabilize the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for drug delivery into the brain. However, the safety and biological consequences of BBB opening (BBBO) remain incompletely understood. This study aims to investigate the effects of two parameters mediating BBBO: microbubble volume dose (MVD) and mechanical index (MI). High-resolution MRI-guided FUS was employed in mouse brains to assess BBBO by manipulating these two parameters. Afterward, the sterile inflammatory response (SIR) was studied 6 h post-FUS treatment. Results demonstrated that both MVD and MI significantly influenced the extent of BBBO, with higher MVD and MI leading to increased permeability. Moreover, RNA sequencing revealed upregulation of major inflammatory pathways and immune cell infiltration after BBBO, indicating the presence and extent of SIR. Gene set enrichment analysis identified 12 gene sets associated with inflammatory responses that were significantly upregulated at higher MVD or MI. A therapeutic window was established between therapeutically relevant BBBO and the onset of SIR, providing operating regimes to avoid damage from stimulation of the NFκB pathway via TNFɑ signaling to apoptosis. These results contribute to the optimization and standardization of BBB opening parameters for safe and effective drug delivery to the brain and further elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms driving sterile inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payton J Martinez
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Jane J Song
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Francis G Garay
- Department of Radiology, Cancer Center Animal Imaging Shared Resource, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Kang-Ho Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Toni Mufford
- Department of Radiology, Cancer Center Animal Imaging Shared Resource, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Jenna Steiner
- Department of Radiology, Cancer Center Animal Imaging Shared Resource, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - John DeSisto
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Nicholas Ellens
- Alpheus Medical, Inc., 1266 Park Rd., Chanhassen, MN, 55317, USA
| | - Natalie J Serkova
- Department of Radiology, Cancer Center Animal Imaging Shared Resource, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Adam L Green
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Mark Borden
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA.
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5
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Li HR, Harb M, Heath JE, Trippett JS, Shapiro MG, Szablowski JO. Engineering viral vectors for acoustically targeted gene delivery. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4924. [PMID: 38858354 PMCID: PMC11164914 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48974-y] [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: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted gene delivery to the brain is a critical tool for neuroscience research and has significant potential to treat human disease. However, the site-specific delivery of common gene vectors such as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) is typically performed via invasive injections, which limit its applicable scope of research and clinical applications. Alternatively, focused ultrasound blood-brain-barrier opening (FUS-BBBO), performed noninvasively, enables the site-specific entry of AAVs into the brain from systemic circulation. However, when used in conjunction with natural AAV serotypes, this approach has limited transduction efficiency and results in substantial undesirable transduction of peripheral organs. Here, we use high throughput in vivo selection to engineer new AAV vectors specifically designed for local neuronal transduction at the site of FUS-BBBO. The resulting vectors substantially enhance ultrasound-targeted gene delivery and neuronal tropism while reducing peripheral transduction, providing a more than ten-fold improvement in targeting specificity in two tested mouse strains. In addition to enhancing the only known approach to noninvasively target gene delivery to specific brain regions, these results establish the ability of AAV vectors to be evolved for specific physical delivery mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyi R Li
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Manwal Harb
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John E Heath
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - Mikhail G Shapiro
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - Jerzy O Szablowski
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Rice Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Rice Synthetic Biology Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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6
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Bae S, Liu K, Pouliopoulos AN, Ji R, Jiménez-Gambín S, Yousefian O, Kline-Schoder AR, Batts AJ, Tsitsos FN, Kokossis D, Mintz A, Honig LS, Konofagou EE. Transcranial Blood-Brain Barrier Opening in Alzheimer's Disease Patients Using a Portable Focused Ultrasound System with Real-Time 2-D Cavitation Mapping. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2023.12.21.23300222. [PMID: 38196636 PMCID: PMC10775403 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.21.23300222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Background Focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with microbubbles has recently shown great promise in facilitating blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening for drug delivery and immunotherapy in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it is currently limited to systems integrated within the MRI suites or requiring post-surgical implants, thus restricting its widespread clinical adoption. In this pilot study, we investigate the clinical safety and feasibility of a portable, non-invasive neuronavigation-guided FUS (NgFUS) system with integrated real-time 2-D microbubble cavitation mapping. Methods A phase 1 clinical study with mild to moderate AD patients (N=6) underwent a single session of microbubble-mediated NgFUS to induce transient BBB opening (BBBO). Microbubble activity under FUS was monitored with real-time 2-D cavitation maps and dosing to ensure the efficacy and safety of the NgFUS treatment. Post-operative MRI was used for BBB opening and closure confirmation as well as safety assessment. Changes in AD biomarker levels in both blood serum and extracellular vesicles (EVs) were evaluated, while changes in amyloid-beta (Aβ) load in the brain were assessed through 18F-Florbetapir PET. Results BBBO was achieved in 5 out of 6 subjects with an average volume of 983±626 mm3 following FUS at the right frontal lobe both in white and gray matter regions. The outpatient treatment was completed within 34.8±10.7 min. Cavitation dose significantly correlated with the BBBO volume (R 2>0.9, N=4), demonstrating the portable NgFUS system's capability of predicting opening volumes. The cavitation maps co-localized closely with the BBBO location, representing the first report of real-time transcranial 2-D cavitation mapping in the human brain. Larger opening volumes correlated with increased levels of AD biomarkers, including Aβ42 (R 2=0.74), Tau (R 2=0.95), and P-Tau181 (R 2=0.86), assayed in serum-derived EVs sampled 3 days after FUS (N=5). From PET scans, subjects showed a lower Aβ load increase in the treated frontal lobe region compared to the contralateral region. Reduction in asymmetry standardized uptake value ratios (SUVR) correlated with the cavitation dose (R 2>0.9, N=3). Clinical changes in the mini-mental state examination over 6 months were within the expected range of cognitive decline with no additional changes observed as a result of FUS. Conclusion We showed the safety and feasibility of this cost-effective and time-efficient portable NgFUS treatment for BBBO in AD patients with the first demonstration of real-time 2-D cavitation mapping. The cavitation dose correlated with BBBO volume, a slowed increase in pathology, and serum detection of AD proteins. Our study highlights the potential for accessible FUS treatment in AD, with or without drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sua Bae
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Keyu Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | - Robin Ji
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | - Omid Yousefian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | - Alec J. Batts
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Fotios N. Tsitsos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Danae Kokossis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Akiva Mintz
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Lawrence S. Honig
- Department of Neurology and Taub Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center 10032, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisa E. Konofagou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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7
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Martinez PJ, Song JJ, Castillo J, DeSisto J, Song KH, Green AL, Borden M. Effect of Microbubble Size, Composition and Multiple Sonication Points on Sterile Inflammatory Response in Focused Ultrasound-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Opening. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.28.591538. [PMID: 38746278 PMCID: PMC11092473 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.28.591538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier opening (BBBO) using focused ultrasound (FUS) and microbubbles (MBs) has emerged as a promising technique for delivering therapeutics to the brain. However, the influence of various FUS and MB parameters on BBBO and subsequent sterile inflammatory response (SIR) remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of MB size and composition, as well as the number of FUS sonication points, on BBBO and SIR in an immunocompetent mouse model. Using MRI-guided MB+FUS, we targeted the striatum and assessed extravasation of an MRI contrast agent to assess BBBO and RNAseq to assess SIR. Our results revealed distinct effects of these parameters on BBBO and SIR. Specifically, at a matched microbubble volume dose (MVD), MB size did not affect the extent of BBBO, but smaller (1 μm diameter) MBs exhibited a lower classification of SIR than larger (3 or 5 μm diameter) MBs. Lipid-shelled microbubbles exhibited greater BBBO and a more pronounced SIR compared to albumin-shelled microbubbles, likely owing to the latter's poor in vivo stability. As expected, increasing the number of sonication points resulted in greater BBBO and SIR. Furthermore, correlation analysis revealed strong associations between passive cavitation detection measurements of harmonic and inertial MB echoes, BBBO and the expression of SIR gene sets. Our findings highlight the critical role of MB and FUS parameters in modulating BBBO and subsequent SIR in the brain. These insights inform the development of targeted drug delivery strategies and the mitigation of adverse inflammatory reactions in neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payton J. Martinez
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
| | - Jane J. Song
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
| | - Jair Castillo
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
| | - John DeSisto
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora CO 80045, United States
| | - Kang-Ho Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
| | - Adam L. Green
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora CO 80045, United States
| | - Mark Borden
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder CO 80303, United States
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8
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Xu R, Treeby BE, Martin E. Safety Review of Therapeutic Ultrasound for Spinal Cord Neuromodulation and Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier Opening. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2024; 50:317-331. [PMID: 38182491 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2023.11.007] [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: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
New focused ultrasound spinal cord applications have emerged, particularly those improving therapeutic agent delivery to the spinal cord via blood-spinal cord barrier opening and the neuromodulation of spinal cord tracts. One hurdle in the development of these applications is safety. It may be possible to use safety trends from seminal and subsequent works in focused ultrasound to guide the development of safety guidelines for spinal cord applications. We collated data from decades of pre-clinical studies and illustrate a clear relationship between damage, time-averaged spatial peak intensity and exposure duration. This relationship suggests a thermal mechanism underlies ultrasound-induced spinal cord damage. We developed minimum and mean thresholds for damage from these pre-clinical studies. When these thresholds were plotted against the parameters used in recent pre-clinical ultrasonic spinal cord neuromodulation studies, the majority of the neuromodulation studies were near or above the minimum threshold. This suggests that a thermal neuromodulatory effect may exist for ultrasonic spinal cord neuromodulation, and that the thermal dose must be carefully controlled to avoid damage to the spinal cord. By contrast, the intensity-exposure duration threshold had no predictive value when applied to blood-spinal cord barrier opening studies that employed injected contrast agents. Most blood-spinal cord barrier opening studies observed slight to severe damage, except for small animal studies that employed an active feedback control method to limit pressures based on measured bubble oscillation behavior. The development of new focused ultrasound spinal cord applications perhaps reflects the recent success in the development of focused ultrasound brain applications, and recent work has begun on the translation of these technologies from brain to spinal cord. However, a great deal of work remains to be done, particularly with respect to developing and accepting safety standards for these applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xu
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Bradley E Treeby
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Eleanor Martin
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
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9
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Owusu-Yaw BS, Todd N. Focused ultrasound-mediated delivery of viral neuronal tracers in marmosets. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2024; 4:100719. [PMID: 38412835 PMCID: PMC10921033 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
In this issue of Cell Reports Methods, Parks et al. present an approach to non-invasively deliver adeno-associated viruses in a marmoset model using focused ultrasound (FUS) for neuronal tracing. The optimization of this technique in this non-human primate model is highly valuable for future FUS-mediated drug delivery studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernie S Owusu-Yaw
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Nick Todd
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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10
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Carpentier A, Stupp R, Sonabend AM, Dufour H, Chinot O, Mathon B, Ducray F, Guyotat J, Baize N, Menei P, de Groot J, Weinberg JS, Liu BP, Guemas E, Desseaux C, Schmitt C, Bouchoux G, Canney M, Idbaih A. Repeated blood-brain barrier opening with a nine-emitter implantable ultrasound device in combination with carboplatin in recurrent glioblastoma: a phase I/II clinical trial. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1650. [PMID: 38396134 PMCID: PMC10891097 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45818-7] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Here, the results of a phase 1/2 single-arm trial (NCT03744026) assessing the safety and efficacy of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption with an implantable ultrasound system in recurrent glioblastoma patients receiving carboplatin are reported. A nine-emitter ultrasound implant was placed at the end of tumor resection replacing the bone flap. After surgery, activation to disrupt the BBB was performed every four weeks either before or after carboplatin infusion. The primary objective of the Phase 1 was to evaluate the safety of escalating numbers of ultrasound emitters using a standard 3 + 3 dose escalation. The primary objective of the Phase 2 was to evaluate the efficacy of BBB opening using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The secondary objectives included safety and clinical efficacy. Thirty-three patients received a total of 90 monthly sonications with carboplatin administration and up to nine emitters activated without observed DLT. Grade 3 procedure-related adverse events consisted of pre syncope (n = 3), fatigue (n = 1), wound infection (n = 2), and pain at time of device connection (n = 7). BBB opening endpoint was met with 90% of emitters showing BBB disruption on MRI after sonication. In the 12 patients who received carboplatin just prior to sonication, the progression-free survival was 3.1 months, the 1-year overall survival rate was 58% and median overall survival was 14.0 months from surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Carpentier
- Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neurochirurgie, Paris, France.
| | - Roger Stupp
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Adam M Sonabend
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Henry Dufour
- Aix-Marseille Univ, APHM, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, CHU Timone, Service de Neuro-Oncologie, Marseille, France
| | - Olivier Chinot
- Aix-Marseille Univ, APHM, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, CHU Timone, Service de Neuro-Oncologie, Marseille, France
| | - Bertrand Mathon
- Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neurochirurgie, Paris, France
| | - François Ducray
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Service de Neuro-Oncologie, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Cancer Cell Plasticity Department, Lyon, France
| | - Jacques Guyotat
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Service de Neuro-Oncologie, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Cancer Cell Plasticity Department, Lyon, France
| | | | | | - John de Groot
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Weinberg
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Benjamin P Liu
- Departments of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ahmed Idbaih
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neuro-Oncologie, Paris, France
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11
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Lee S, Nouraein S, Kwon JJ, Huang Z, Wojick JA, Xia B, Corder G, Szablowski JO. Engineered serum markers for non-invasive monitoring of gene expression in the brain. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-023-02087-x. [PMID: 38200117 PMCID: PMC11233427 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-02087-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Measurement of gene expression in the brain requires invasive analysis of brain tissue or non-invasive methods that are limited by low sensitivity. Here we introduce a method for non-invasive, multiplexed, site-specific monitoring of endogenous gene or transgene expression in the brain through engineered reporters called released markers of activity (RMAs). RMAs consist of an easily detectable reporter and a receptor-binding domain that enables transcytosis across the brain endothelium. RMAs are expressed in the brain but exit into the blood, where they can be easily measured. We show that expressing RMAs at a single mouse brain site representing approximately 1% of the brain volume provides up to a 100,000-fold signal increase over the baseline. Expression of RMAs in tens to hundreds of neurons is sufficient for their reliable detection. We demonstrate that chemogenetic activation of cells expressing Fos-responsive RMA increases serum RMA levels >6-fold compared to non-activated controls. RMAs provide a non-invasive method for repeatable, multiplexed monitoring of gene expression in the intact animal brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangsin Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Rice Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shirin Nouraein
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Rice Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - James J Kwon
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhimin Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Rice Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jessica A Wojick
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Boao Xia
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Rice Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gregory Corder
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jerzy O Szablowski
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Rice Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Applied Physics Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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12
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Song G, Plumlee P, Ahn JY, Wong ST, Zhao H. Translational strategies and systems biology insights for blood-brain barrier opening and delivery in brain tumors and Alzheimer's disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115450. [PMID: 37703663 PMCID: PMC10591819 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115450] [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: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a critical role in determining the effectiveness of systemic treatments for brain diseases. Over the years, several innovative approaches in BBB opening and drug delivery have been developed and progressed into clinical testing phases, including focused ultrasound (FUS) with circulating microbubbles, mannitol-facilitated delivery of anti-neoplastic drugs, receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) by antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and viral vectors for gene therapy. We provided a comprehensive review of the most recent clinical applications of these approaches in managing brain tumors and Alzheimer's disease (AD), two major devastating brain diseases. Moreover, the spatial-temporal molecular heterogeneity of the BBB under disease states emphasized the importance of utilizing emerging spatial systems biology approaches to unravel novel targets for intervention within BBB and tailor strategies for enhancing drug delivery to the brain. SEARCH STRATEGY AND SELECTION CRITERIA: Data for this Review were identified by searches of clinicaltrials.gov, MEDLINE, Current Contents, PubMed, and references from relevant articles using the search terms "blood-brain barrier", "CNS drug delivery", "BBB modulation", "clinical trials", "systems biology", "primary or metastatic brain tumors", "Alzheimer's disease". Abstracts and reports from meetings were included only when they related directly to previously published work. Only articles published in English between 1980 and 2023 were included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gefei Song
- T. T. and W. F. Chao Center for BRAIN and Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Pierce Plumlee
- T. T. and W. F. Chao Center for BRAIN and Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Ju Young Ahn
- T. T. and W. F. Chao Center for BRAIN and Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston TX 77030, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Stephen Tc Wong
- T. T. and W. F. Chao Center for BRAIN and Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston TX 77030, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Hong Zhao
- T. T. and W. F. Chao Center for BRAIN and Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston TX 77030, USA.
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Martinez P, Song JJ, Garay FG, Song KH, Mufford T, Steiner J, DeSisto J, Ellens N, Serkova NJ, Green AL, Borden M. Comprehensive Assessment of Blood-Brain Barrier Opening and Sterile Inflammatory Response: Unraveling the Therapeutic Window. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.23.563613. [PMID: 37961395 PMCID: PMC10634745 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.23.563613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Microbubbles (MBs) combined with focused ultrasound (FUS) have emerged as a promising noninvasive technique to permeabilize the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for drug delivery to the brain. However, the safety and biological consequences of BBB opening remain incompletely understood. This study investigates the effects of varying microbubble volume doses (MVD) and ultrasound mechanical indices (MI) on BBB opening and the sterile inflammatory response (SIR) using high-resolution ultra-high field MRI-guided FUS in mouse brains. The results demonstrate that both MVD and MI significantly influence the extent of BBB opening, with higher doses and mechanical indices leading to increased permeability. Moreover, RNA sequencing reveals upregulated inflammatory pathways and immune cell infiltration after BBB opening, suggesting the presence and extent of SIR. Gene set enrichment analysis identifies 12 gene sets associated with inflammatory responses that are upregulated at higher doses of MVD or MI. A therapeutic window is established between significant BBB opening and the onset of SIR, providing operating regimes for avoiding each three classes of increasing damage from stimulation of the NFκB pathway via TNFL signaling to apoptosis. This study contributes to the optimization and standardization of BBB opening parameters for safe and effective drug delivery to the brain and sheds light on the underlying molecular mechanisms of the sterile inflammatory response. Significance Statement The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive investigation of microbubble-facilitated focused ultrasound for blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening. By systematically exploring various combinations of microbubble volume doses and ultrasound mechanical indices, the study reveals their direct impact on the extent of BBB permeability and the induction of sterile inflammatory response (SIR). The establishment of a therapeutic window between significant BBB opening and the onset of SIR provides critical insights for safe and targeted drug delivery to the brain. These findings advance our understanding of the biological consequences of BBB opening and contribute to optimizing parameters for clinical applications, thus minimizing potential health risks, and maximizing the therapeutic potential of this technique.
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14
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Bérard C, Truillet C, Larrat B, Dhermain F, Estève MA, Correard F, Novell A. Anticancer drug delivery by focused ultrasound-mediated blood-brain/tumor barrier disruption for glioma therapy: From benchside to bedside. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 250:108518. [PMID: 37619931 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108518] [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: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic management of gliomas remains particularly challenging. Brain tumors present multiple obstacles that make therapeutic innovation complex, mainly due to the presence of blood-tumor and blood-brain barriers (BTB and BBB, respectively) which prevent penetration of anticancer agents into the brain parenchyma. Focused ultrasound-mediated BBB disruption (FUS-BBBD) provides a physical method for non-invasive, local, and reversible BBB disruption. The safety of this technique has been demonstrated in small and large animal models. This approach promises to enhance drug delivery into the brain tumor and therefore to improve survival outcomes by repurposing existing drugs. Several clinical trials continue to be initiated in the last decade. In this review, we provide an overview of the rationale behind the use of FUS-BBBD in gliomas and summarize the preclinical studies investigating different approaches (free drugs, drug-loaded microbubbles and drug-loaded nanocarriers) in combination with this technology in in vivo glioma models. Furthermore, we discuss the current state of clinical trials and devices developed and review the challenges to overcome for clinical use of FUS-BBBD in glioma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Bérard
- Aix Marseille Univ, APHM, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Hôpital Timone, Service Pharmacie, 13005 Marseille, France.
| | - Charles Truillet
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BioMaps, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, 91401 Orsay, France.
| | - Benoit Larrat
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, NeuroSpin/BAOBAB, Centre d'études de Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Frédéric Dhermain
- Radiation Oncology Department, Gustave Roussy University Hospital, 94805 Villejuif, France.
| | - Marie-Anne Estève
- Aix Marseille Univ, APHM, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Hôpital Timone, Service Pharmacie, 13005 Marseille, France.
| | - Florian Correard
- Aix Marseille Univ, APHM, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Hôpital Timone, Service Pharmacie, 13005 Marseille, France.
| | - Anthony Novell
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BioMaps, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, 91401 Orsay, France.
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15
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Chen YH, Moore D, Lee CC, Su YH. Focused ultrasound for brain metastases: an update on global clinical trials. J Neurooncol 2023; 165:53-62. [PMID: 37910281 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-023-04492-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite advances in immunotherapy and targeted treatments for malignancies of the central nervous system (CNS), the treatment of brain metastases (BMs) remains a formidable challenge, due largely to difficulties in crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), drug resistance, and molecular discrepancies. Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a non-invasive tool for BBB breaching, tumor ablation, enhancing drug delivery, promoting the release of tumor biomarkers for liquid biopsy, or the tumor microenvironment disruption. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the current literature related to FUS and its application in the treatment of brain metastasis. METHODS This review of the current literature via PubMed, Google Scholar, and Clincaltrials.gov focused on clinical trials in which FUS is used in the intracranial treatment of metastatic tumor, glioma, or GBM. RESULTS FUS is safe and effective for treatment of primary or metastatic brain tumors. FUS-augmented drug delivery can open BBB to facilitate the transport of chemotherapeutic agents, immunotherapies, and targeted treatments. The integration of FUS with liquid biopsy has considerable potential for early tumor detection, precise gene profiling, and personalized therapy. Sonodynamic therapy can induce tumor cell apoptosis and could potentially be used to enhance the outcomes of other tumor treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Further work is required to establish FUS as a standard therapy for BMs. FUS has the potential to transform brain tumor treatment, particularly when combined with immunotherapy and targeted therapy as a non-invasive alternative to surgery and radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsiu Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - David Moore
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation, 1230 Cedars Court, Suite 206, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - Cheng-Chia Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yan-Hua Su
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
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16
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Johansen PM, Hansen PY, Mohamed AA, Girshfeld SJ, Feldmann M, Lucke-Wold B. Focused ultrasound for treatment of peripheral brain tumors. EXPLORATION OF DRUG SCIENCE 2023; 1:107-125. [PMID: 37171968 PMCID: PMC10168685 DOI: 10.37349/eds.2023.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Malignant brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children and remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality throughout all demographics. Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are classically treated with surgical resection and radiotherapy in addition to adjuvant chemotherapy. However, the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents is limited due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a new and promising intervention for CNS tumors, which has shown success in preclinical trials. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has the capacity to serve as a direct therapeutic agent in the form of thermoablation and mechanical destruction of the tumor. Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) has been shown to disrupt the BBB and enhance the uptake of therapeutic agents in the brain and CNS. The authors present a review of MRgFUS in the treatment of CNS tumors. This treatment method has shown promising results in preclinical trials including minimal adverse effects, increased infiltration of the therapeutic agents into the CNS, decreased tumor progression, and improved survival rates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Payton Yerke Hansen
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Ali A. Mohamed
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Sarah J. Girshfeld
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Marc Feldmann
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Brandon Lucke-Wold
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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17
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Kumar A, Das SK, Emdad L, Fisher PB. Applications of tissue-specific and cancer-selective gene promoters for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Adv Cancer Res 2023; 160:253-315. [PMID: 37704290 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Current treatment of solid tumors with standard of care chemotherapies, radiation therapy and/or immunotherapies are often limited by severe adverse toxic effects, resulting in a narrow therapeutic index. Cancer gene therapy represents a targeted approach that in principle could significantly reduce undesirable side effects in normal tissues while significantly inhibiting tumor growth and progression. To be effective, this strategy requires a clear understanding of the molecular biology of cancer development and evolution and developing biological vectors that can serve as vehicles to target cancer cells. The advent and fine tuning of omics technologies that permit the collective and spatial recognition of genes (genomics), mRNAs (transcriptomics), proteins (proteomics), metabolites (metabolomics), epiomics (epigenomics, epitranscriptomics, and epiproteomics), and their interactomics in defined complex biological samples provide a roadmap for identifying crucial targets of relevance to the cancer paradigm. Combining these strategies with identified genetic elements that control target gene expression uncovers significant opportunities for developing guided gene-based therapeutics for cancer. The purpose of this review is to overview the current state and potential limitations in developing gene promoter-directed targeted expression of key genes and highlights their potential applications in cancer gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States.
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18
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Pacia CP, Yuan J, Yue Y, Leuthardt EC, Benzinger TLS, Nazeri A, Chen H. Focused Ultrasound-mediated Liquid Biopsy in a Tauopathy Mouse Model. Radiology 2023; 307:e220869. [PMID: 36719290 PMCID: PMC10102631 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.220869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Neurodegenerative disorders (such as Alzheimer disease) characterized by the deposition of various pathogenic forms of tau protein in the brain are collectively referred to as tauopathies. Identification of the molecular drivers and pathways of neurodegeneration is critical to individualized targeted treatment of these disorders. However, despite important advances in fluid biomarker detection, characterization of these molecular subtypes is limited by the blood-brain barrier. Purpose To evaluate the feasibility and safety of focused ultrasound-mediated liquid biopsy (sonobiopsy) in the detection of brain-derived protein biomarkers in a transgenic mouse model of tauopathy (PS19 mice). Materials and Methods Sonobiopsy was performed by sonicating the cerebral hemisphere in 2-month-old PS19 and wild-type mice, followed by measurement of plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau) species (30 minutes after sonication in the sonobiopsy group). Next, spatially targeted sonobiopsy was performed by sonicating either the cerebral cortex or the hippocampus in 6-month-old PS19 mice. To detect changes in plasma neurofilament light chain (a biomarker of neurodegeneration) levels, blood samples were collected before and after sonication (15 and 45-60 minutes after sonication). Histologic staining was performed to evaluate tissue damage after sonobiopsy. The Shapiro-Wilk test, unpaired and paired t tests, and the Mann-Whitney U test were used. Results In the 2-month-old mice, sonobiopsy significantly increased the normalized levels of plasma p-tau species compared with the conventional blood-based liquid biopsy (p-tau-181-to-mouse tau [m-tau] ratio: 1.7-fold increase, P = .006; p-tau-231-to-m-tau ratio: 1.4-fold increase, P = .048). In the 6-month-old PS19 mice, spatially targeted sonobiopsy resulted in a 2.3-fold increase in plasma neurofilament light chain after sonication of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex (P < .001). After optimization of the sonobiopsy parameters, no excess microhemorrhage was observed in the treated cerebral hemisphere compared with the contralateral side. Conclusion This study showed the feasibility of sonobiopsy to release phosphorylated tau species and neurofilament light chain to the blood circulation, potentially facilitating diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders. © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Fowlkes in this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Pham Pacia
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University
in St Louis, 4511 Forest Park Ave, St Louis, MO 63108 (C.P.P., J.Y., Y.Y.,
E.C.L., H.C.); Department of Neurosurgery (E.C.L.), Mallinckrodt Institute of
Radiology (T.L.S.B., A.N.), and Department of Radiation Oncology (H.C.),
Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Jinyun Yuan
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University
in St Louis, 4511 Forest Park Ave, St Louis, MO 63108 (C.P.P., J.Y., Y.Y.,
E.C.L., H.C.); Department of Neurosurgery (E.C.L.), Mallinckrodt Institute of
Radiology (T.L.S.B., A.N.), and Department of Radiation Oncology (H.C.),
Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Yimei Yue
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University
in St Louis, 4511 Forest Park Ave, St Louis, MO 63108 (C.P.P., J.Y., Y.Y.,
E.C.L., H.C.); Department of Neurosurgery (E.C.L.), Mallinckrodt Institute of
Radiology (T.L.S.B., A.N.), and Department of Radiation Oncology (H.C.),
Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Eric C. Leuthardt
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University
in St Louis, 4511 Forest Park Ave, St Louis, MO 63108 (C.P.P., J.Y., Y.Y.,
E.C.L., H.C.); Department of Neurosurgery (E.C.L.), Mallinckrodt Institute of
Radiology (T.L.S.B., A.N.), and Department of Radiation Oncology (H.C.),
Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Tammie L. S. Benzinger
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University
in St Louis, 4511 Forest Park Ave, St Louis, MO 63108 (C.P.P., J.Y., Y.Y.,
E.C.L., H.C.); Department of Neurosurgery (E.C.L.), Mallinckrodt Institute of
Radiology (T.L.S.B., A.N.), and Department of Radiation Oncology (H.C.),
Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
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Khan MS, Mohapatra S, Gupta V, Ali A, Naseef PP, Kurunian MS, Alshadidi AAF, Alam MS, Mirza MA, Iqbal Z. Potential of Lipid-Based Nanocarriers against Two Major Barriers to Drug Delivery-Skin and Blood-Brain Barrier. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:343. [PMID: 36984730 PMCID: PMC10058721 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13030343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Over the past few years, pharmaceutical and biomedical areas have made the most astounding accomplishments in the field of medicine, diagnostics and drug delivery. Nanotechnology-based tools have played a major role in this. The implementation of this multifaceted nanotechnology concept encourages the advancement of innovative strategies and materials for improving patient compliance. The plausible usage of nanotechnology in drug delivery prompts an extension of lipid-based nanocarriers with a special reference to barriers such as the skin and blood-brain barrier (BBB) that have been discussed in the given manuscript. The limited permeability of these two intriguing biological barriers restricts the penetration of active moieties through the skin and brain, resulting in futile outcomes in several related ailments. Lipid-based nanocarriers provide a possible solution to this problem by facilitating the penetration of drugs across these obstacles, which leads to improvements in their effectiveness. A special emphasis in this review is placed on the composition, mechanism of penetration and recent applications of these carriers. It also includes recent research and the latest findings in the form of patents and clinical trials in this field. The presented data demonstrate the capability of these carriers as potential drug delivery systems across the skin (referred to as topical, dermal and transdermal delivery) as well as to the brain, which can be exploited further for the development of safe and efficacious products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sameer Khan
- School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Sradhanjali Mohapatra
- Nanotechnology Lab, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Vaibhav Gupta
- Nanotechnology Lab, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Ahsan Ali
- Nanotechnology Lab, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | | | - Mohamed Saheer Kurunian
- Department of Dental Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulkhaliq Ali F. Alshadidi
- Department of Dental Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Md Shamsher Alam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan P.O. Box 114, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd. Aamir Mirza
- Nanotechnology Lab, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Zeenat Iqbal
- Nanotechnology Lab, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
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Kaykanat SI, Uguz AK. The role of acoustofluidics and microbubble dynamics for therapeutic applications and drug delivery. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:021502. [PMID: 37153864 PMCID: PMC10162024 DOI: 10.1063/5.0130769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Targeted drug delivery is proposed to reduce the toxic effects of conventional therapeutic methods. For that purpose, nanoparticles are loaded with drugs called nanocarriers and directed toward a specific site. However, biological barriers challenge the nanocarriers to convey the drug to the target site effectively. Different targeting strategies and nanoparticle designs are used to overcome these barriers. Ultrasound is a new, safe, and non-invasive drug targeting method, especially when combined with microbubbles. Microbubbles oscillate under the effect of the ultrasound, which increases the permeability of endothelium, hence, the drug uptake to the target site. Consequently, this new technique reduces the dose of the drug and avoids its side effects. This review aims to describe the biological barriers and the targeting types with the critical features of acoustically driven microbubbles focusing on biomedical applications. The theoretical part covers the historical developments in microbubble models for different conditions: microbubbles in an incompressible and compressible medium and bubbles encapsulated by a shell. The current state and the possible future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. I. Kaykanat
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Boğaziçi University, 34342 Bebek, Istanbul, Türkiye
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21
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Sridharan B, Lim HG. Exosomes and ultrasound: The future of theranostic applications. Mater Today Bio 2023; 19:100556. [PMID: 36756211 PMCID: PMC9900624 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomaterials and pertaining formulations have been very successful in various diagnostic and therapeutic applications because of its ability to overcome pharmacological limitations. Some of them have gained significant focus in the recent decade for their theranostic properties. Exosomes can be grouped as biomaterials, since they consist of various biological micro/macromolecules and possess all the properties of a stable biomaterial with size in nano range. Significant research has gone into isolation and exploitation of exosomes as potential theranostic agent. However, the limitations in terms of yield, efficacy, and target specificity are continuously being addressed. On the other hand, several nano/microformulations are responsive to physical or chemical alterations and were successfully stimulated by tweaking the physical characteristics of the surrounding environment they are in. Some of them are termed as photodynamic, sonodynamic or thermodynamic therapeutic systems. In this regard, ultrasound and acoustic systems were extensively studied for its ability towards altering the properties of the systems to which they were applied on. In this review, we have detailed about the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of exosomes and ultrasound separately, consisting of their conventional applications, drawbacks, and developments for addressing the challenges. The information were categorized into various sections that provide complete overview of the isolation strategies and theranostic applications of exosomes in various diseases. Then the ultrasound-based disease diagnosis and therapy were elaborated, with special interest towards the use of ultrasound in enhancing the efficacy of nanomedicines and nanodrug delivery systems, Finally, we discussed about the ability of ultrasound in enhancing the diagnostic and therapeutic properties of exosomes, which could be the future of theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hae Gyun Lim
- Corresponding author. Biomedical Ultrasound Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea.
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22
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Nucleic acid drug vectors for diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:39. [PMID: 36650130 PMCID: PMC9844208 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01298-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid drugs have the advantages of rich target selection, simple in design, good and enduring effect. They have been demonstrated to have irreplaceable superiority in brain disease treatment, while vectors are a decisive factor in therapeutic efficacy. Strict physiological barriers, such as degradation and clearance in circulation, blood-brain barrier, cellular uptake, endosome/lysosome barriers, release, obstruct the delivery of nucleic acid drugs to the brain by the vectors. Nucleic acid drugs against a single target are inefficient in treating brain diseases of complex pathogenesis. Differences between individual patients lead to severe uncertainties in brain disease treatment with nucleic acid drugs. In this Review, we briefly summarize the classification of nucleic acid drugs. Next, we discuss physiological barriers during drug delivery and universal coping strategies and introduce the application methods of these universal strategies to nucleic acid drug vectors. Subsequently, we explore nucleic acid drug-based multidrug regimens for the combination treatment of brain diseases and the construction of the corresponding vectors. In the following, we address the feasibility of patient stratification and personalized therapy through diagnostic information from medical imaging and the manner of introducing contrast agents into vectors. Finally, we take a perspective on the future feasibility and remaining challenges of vector-based integrated diagnosis and gene therapy for brain diseases.
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Afzal O, Altamimi ASA, Nadeem MS, Alzarea SI, Almalki WH, Tariq A, Mubeen B, Murtaza BN, Iftikhar S, Riaz N, Kazmi I. Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery: From History to Therapeutic Applications. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:nano12244494. [PMID: 36558344 PMCID: PMC9781272 DOI: 10.3390/nano12244494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Current research into the role of engineered nanoparticles in drug delivery systems (DDSs) for medical purposes has developed numerous fascinating nanocarriers. This paper reviews the various conventionally used and current used carriage system to deliver drugs. Due to numerous drawbacks of conventional DDSs, nanocarriers have gained immense interest. Nanocarriers like polymeric nanoparticles, mesoporous nanoparticles, nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes, dendrimers, liposomes, metallic nanoparticles, nanomedicine, and engineered nanomaterials are used as carriage systems for targeted delivery at specific sites of affected areas in the body. Nanomedicine has rapidly grown to treat certain diseases like brain cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and many others. These nanomedicines can improve drug bioavailability and drug absorption time, reduce release time, eliminate drug aggregation, and enhance drug solubility in the blood. Nanomedicine has introduced a new era for drug carriage by refining the therapeutic directories of the energetic pharmaceutical elements engineered within nanoparticles. In this context, the vital information on engineered nanoparticles was reviewed and conferred towards the role in drug carriage systems to treat many ailments. All these nanocarriers were tested in vitro and in vivo. In the coming years, nanomedicines can improve human health more effectively by adding more advanced techniques into the drug delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obaid Afzal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmalik S. A. Altamimi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Shahid Nadeem
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sami I. Alzarea
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Waleed Hassan Almalki
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aqsa Tariq
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Bismillah Mubeen
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Bibi Nazia Murtaza
- Department of Zoology, Abbottabad University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abbottabad 22310, Pakistan
| | - Saima Iftikhar
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Naeem Riaz
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University, Abbottabad 22020, Pakistan
| | - Imran Kazmi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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Mungur R, Zheng J, Wang B, Chen X, Zhan R, Tong Y. Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Technique in Glioblastoma Multiforme Treatment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:903059. [PMID: 35677164 PMCID: PMC9169875 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.903059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is one of the central nervous system most aggressive and lethal cancers with poor overall survival rate. Systemic treatment of glioblastoma remains the most challenging aspect due to the low permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-tumor barrier (BTB), limiting therapeutics extravasation mainly in the core tumor as well as in its surrounding invading areas. It is now possible to overcome these barriers by using low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) together with intravenously administered oscillating microbubbles (MBs). LIFU is a non-invasive technique using converging ultrasound waves which can alter the permeability of BBB/BTB to drug delivery in a specific brain/tumor region. This emerging technique has proven to be both safe and repeatable without causing injury to the brain parenchyma including neurons and other structures. Furthermore, LIFU is also approved by the FDA to treat essential tremors and Parkinson's disease. It is currently under clinical trial in patients suffering from glioblastoma as a drug delivery strategy and liquid biopsy for glioblastoma biomarkers. The use of LIFU+MBs is a step-up in the world of drug delivery, where onco-therapeutics of different molecular sizes and weights can be delivered directly into the brain/tumor parenchyma. Initially, several potent drugs targeting glioblastoma were limited to cross the BBB/BTB; however, using LIFU+MBs, diverse therapeutics showed significantly higher uptake, improved tumor control, and overall survival among different species. Here, we highlight the therapeutic approach of LIFU+MBs mediated drug-delivery in the treatment of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajneesh Mungur
- Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiesheng Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ben Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, National Ministry of Education, Cancer Institute, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinhua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Pulsed Power Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Renya Zhan
- Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Tong
- Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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25
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Menon S, Armstrong S, Hamzeh A, Visanji NP, Sardi SP, Tandon A. Alpha-Synuclein Targeting Therapeutics for Parkinson's Disease and Related Synucleinopathies. Front Neurol 2022; 13:852003. [PMID: 35614915 PMCID: PMC9124903 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.852003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (asyn) is a key pathogenetic factor in a group of neurodegenerative diseases generically known as synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Although the initial triggers of pathology and progression are unclear, multiple lines of evidence support therapeutic targeting of asyn in order to limit its prion-like misfolding. Here, we review recent pre-clinical and clinical work that offers promising treatment strategies to sequester, degrade, or silence asyn expression as a means to reduce the levels of seed or substrate. These diverse approaches include removal of aggregated asyn with passive or active immunization or by expression of vectorized antibodies, modulating kinetics of misfolding with small molecule anti-aggregants, lowering asyn gene expression by antisense oligonucleotides or inhibitory RNA, and pharmacological activation of asyn degradation pathways. We also discuss recent technological advances in combining low intensity focused ultrasound with intravenous microbubbles to transiently increase blood-brain barrier permeability for improved brain delivery and target engagement of these large molecule anti-asyn biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindhu Menon
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sabrina Armstrong
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amir Hamzeh
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Naomi P. Visanji
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Anurag Tandon
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Anurag Tandon
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Kim C, Lim M, Woodworth GF, Arvanitis CD. The roles of thermal and mechanical stress in focused ultrasound-mediated immunomodulation and immunotherapy for central nervous system tumors. J Neurooncol 2022; 157:221-236. [PMID: 35235137 PMCID: PMC9119565 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-022-03973-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Focused ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging technology, offering the capability of tuning and prescribing thermal and mechanical treatments within the brain. While early works in utilizing this technology have mainly focused on maximizing the delivery of therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the potential therapeutic impact of FUS-induced controlled thermal and mechanical stress to modulate anti-tumor immunity is becoming increasingly recognized. OBJECTIVE To better understand the roles of FUS-mediated thermal and mechanical stress in promoting anti-tumor immunity in central nervous system tumors, we performed a comprehensive literature review on focused ultrasound-mediated immunomodulation and immunotherapy in brain tumors. METHODS First, we summarize the current clinical experience with immunotherapy. Then, we discuss the unique and distinct immunomodulatory effects of the FUS-mediated thermal and mechanical stress in the brain tumor-immune microenvironment. Finally, we highlight recent findings that indicate that its combination with immune adjuvants can promote robust responses in brain tumors. RESULTS Along with the rapid advancement of FUS technologies into recent clinical trials, this technology through mild-hyperthermia, thermal ablation, mechanical perturbation mediated by microbubbles, and histotripsy each inducing distinct vascular and immunological effects, is offering the unique opportunity to improve immunotherapeutic trafficking and convert immunologically "cold" tumors into immunologically "hot" ones that are prone to generate prolonged anti-tumor immune responses. CONCLUSIONS While FUS technology is clearly accelerating concepts for new immunotherapeutic combinations, additional parallel efforts to detail rational therapeutic strategies supported by rigorous preclinical studies are still in need to leverage potential synergies of this technology with immune adjuvants. This work will accelerate the discovery and clinical implementation of new effective FUS immunotherapeutic combinations for brain tumor patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chulyong Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michael Lim
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine (Oncology), of Neurology, of Otolaryngology, and of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Paulo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Graeme F Woodworth
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Costas D Arvanitis
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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The Effect of Microbubble-Assisted Ultrasound on Molecular Permeability across Cell Barriers. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14030494. [PMID: 35335871 PMCID: PMC8949944 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14030494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of ultrasound and microbubbles (USMB) has been applied to enhance drug permeability across tissue barriers. Most studies focused on only one physicochemical aspect (i.e., molecular weight of the delivered molecule). Using an in vitro epithelial (MDCK II) cell barrier, we examined the effects of USMB on the permeability of five molecules varying in molecular weight (182 Da to 20 kDa) and hydrophilicity (LogD at pH 7.4 from 1.5 to highly hydrophilic). Treatment of cells with USMB at increasing ultrasound pressures did not have a significant effect on the permeability of small molecules (molecular weight 259 to 376 Da), despite their differences in hydrophilicity (LogD at pH 7.4 from −3.2 to 1.5). The largest molecules (molecular weight 4 and 20 kDa) showed the highest increase in the epithelial permeability (3-7-fold). Simultaneously, USMB enhanced intracellular accumulation of the same molecules. In the case of the clinically relevant anti- C-X-C Chemokine Receptor Type 4 (CXCR4) nanobody (molecular weight 15 kDa), USMB enhanced paracellular permeability by two-fold and increased binding to retinoblastoma cells by five-fold. Consequently, USMB is a potential tool to improve the efficacy and safety of the delivery of drugs to organs protected by tissue barriers, such as the eye and the brain.
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28
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Lubejko ST, Graham RD, Livrizzi G, Schaefer R, Banghart MR, Creed MC. The role of endogenous opioid neuropeptides in neurostimulation-driven analgesia. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:1044686. [PMID: 36591324 PMCID: PMC9794630 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.1044686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the prevalence of chronic pain worldwide, there is an urgent need to improve pain management strategies. While opioid drugs have long been used to treat chronic pain, their use is severely limited by adverse effects and abuse liability. Neurostimulation techniques have emerged as a promising option for chronic pain that is refractory to other treatments. While different neurostimulation strategies have been applied to many neural structures implicated in pain processing, there is variability in efficacy between patients, underscoring the need to optimize neurostimulation techniques for use in pain management. This optimization requires a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying neurostimulation-induced pain relief. Here, we discuss the most commonly used neurostimulation techniques for treating chronic pain. We present evidence that neurostimulation-induced analgesia is in part driven by the release of endogenous opioids and that this endogenous opioid release is a common endpoint between different methods of neurostimulation. Finally, we introduce technological and clinical innovations that are being explored to optimize neurostimulation techniques for the treatment of pain, including multidisciplinary efforts between neuroscience research and clinical treatment that may refine the efficacy of neurostimulation based on its underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan T. Lubejko
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Robert D. Graham
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Center, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Giulia Livrizzi
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Robert Schaefer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Center, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Matthew R. Banghart
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Matthew R. Banghart,
| | - Meaghan C. Creed
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Center, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Meaghan C. Creed,
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Schoen S, Kilinc MS, Lee H, Guo Y, Degertekin FL, Woodworth GF, Arvanitis C. Towards controlled drug delivery in brain tumors with microbubble-enhanced focused ultrasound. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 180:114043. [PMID: 34801617 PMCID: PMC8724442 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Brain tumors are particularly challenging malignancies, due to their location in a structurally and functionally distinct part of the human body - the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is separated and protected by a unique system of brain and blood vessel cells which together prevent most bloodborne therapeutics from entering the brain tumor microenvironment (TME). Recently, great strides have been made through microbubble (MB) ultrasound contrast agents in conjunction with ultrasound energy to locally increase the permeability of brain vessels and modulate the brain TME. As we elaborate in this review, this physical method can effectively deliver a wide range of anticancer agents, including chemotherapeutics, antibodies, and nanoparticle drug conjugates across a range of preclinical brain tumors, including high grade glioma (glioblastoma), diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, and brain metastasis. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that this technology can promote the effective delivery of novel immunotherapeutic agents, including immune check-point inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cells, among others. With early clinical studies demonstrating safety, and several Phase I/II trials testing the preclinical findings underway, this technology is making firm steps towards shaping the future treatments of primary and metastatic brain cancer. By elaborating on its key components, including ultrasound systems and MB technology, along with methods for closed-loop spatial and temporal control of MB activity, we highlight how this technology can be tuned to enable new, personalized treatment strategies for primary brain malignancies and brain metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Schoen
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - M. Sait Kilinc
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Hohyun Lee
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Yutong Guo
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - F. Levent Degertekin
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Graeme F. Woodworth
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA,Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, College Park, MD 20742, USA,Fischell Department of Bioengineering A. James Clarke School of Engineering, University of Maryland
| | - Costas Arvanitis
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA,Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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30
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Zhang N, Wang J, Foiret J, Dai Z, Ferrara KW. Synergies between therapeutic ultrasound, gene therapy and immunotherapy in cancer treatment. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 178:113906. [PMID: 34333075 PMCID: PMC8556319 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Due to the ease of use and excellent safety profile, ultrasound is a promising technique for both diagnosis and site-specific therapy. Ultrasound-based techniques have been developed to enhance the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of therapeutic agents in cancer treatment. In particular, transfection with exogenous nucleic acids has the potential to stimulate an immune response in the tumor microenvironment. Ultrasound-mediated gene transfection is a growing field, and recent work has incorporated this technique into cancer immunotherapy. Compared with other gene transfection methods, ultrasound-mediated gene transfection has a unique opportunity to augment the intracellular uptake of nucleic acids while safely and stably modulating the expression of immunostimulatory cytokines. The development and commercialization of therapeutic ultrasound systems further enhance the potential translation. In this Review, we introduce the underlying mechanisms and ongoing preclinical studies of ultrasound-based techniques in gene transfection for cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, we expand on aspects of therapeutic ultrasound that impact gene therapy and immunotherapy, including tumor debulking, enhancing cytokines and chemokines and altering nanoparticle pharmacokinetics as these effects of ultrasound cannot be fully dissected from targeted gene therapy. We finally explore the outlook for this rapidly developing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisi Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - James Wang
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Josquin Foiret
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Zhifei Dai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Rousou C, Schuurmans CCL, Urtti A, Mastrobattista E, Storm G, Moonen C, Kaarniranta K, Deckers R. Ultrasound and Microbubbles for the Treatment of Ocular Diseases: From Preclinical Research towards Clinical Application. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13111782. [PMID: 34834196 PMCID: PMC8624665 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The unique anatomy of the eye and the presence of various biological barriers make efficacious ocular drug delivery challenging, particularly in the treatment of posterior eye diseases. This review focuses on the combination of ultrasound and microbubbles (USMB) as a minimally invasive method to improve the efficacy and targeting of ocular drug delivery. An extensive overview is given of the in vitro and in vivo studies investigating the mechanical effects of ultrasound-driven microbubbles aiming to: (i) temporarily disrupt the blood–retina barrier in order to enhance the delivery of systemically administered drugs into the eye, (ii) induce intracellular uptake of anticancer drugs and macromolecules and (iii) achieve targeted delivery of genes, for the treatment of ocular malignancies and degenerative diseases. Finally, the safety and tolerability aspects of USMB, essential for the translation of USMB to the clinic, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charis Rousou
- Departments of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands; (C.C.L.S.); (E.M.); (G.S.)
- Division of Imaging and Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (C.M.); (R.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Carl C. L. Schuurmans
- Departments of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands; (C.C.L.S.); (E.M.); (G.S.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Arto Urtti
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland;
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii Pr. 26, Petrodvorets, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Enrico Mastrobattista
- Departments of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands; (C.C.L.S.); (E.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Gert Storm
- Departments of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands; (C.C.L.S.); (E.M.); (G.S.)
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Chrit Moonen
- Division of Imaging and Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (C.M.); (R.D.)
| | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, 70029 Kuopio, Finland;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Roel Deckers
- Division of Imaging and Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (C.M.); (R.D.)
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32
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Larson PS. Improved Delivery Methods for Gene Therapy and Cell Transplantation in Parkinson's Disease. JOURNAL OF PARKINSONS DISEASE 2021; 11:S199-S206. [PMID: 34366372 PMCID: PMC8543258 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-212710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A number of cell transplantation and gene therapy trials have been performed over the last three decades in an effort to restore function in Parkinson’s disease. Much has been learned about optimizing delivery methods for these therapeutics. This is particularly true in gene therapy, which has predominated the clinical trial landscape in recent years; however, cell transplantation for Parkinson’s disease is currently undergoing a renaissance. Innovations such as cannula design, iMRI-guided surgery and an evolution in delivery strategy has radically changed the way investigators approach clinical trial design. Future therapeutic strategies may employ newer delivery methods such as chronically implanted infusion devices and focal opening of the blood brain barrier with focused ultrasound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul S Larson
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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