Ultrasound-responsive microbubbles and nanodroplets: A pathway to targeted drug delivery

Abstract

Ultrasound-responsive agents have shown great potential as targeted drug delivery agents, effectively augmenting cell permeability and facilitating drug absorption. This review focuses on two specific agents, microbubbles and nanodroplets, and provides a sequential overview of their drug delivery process. Particular emphasis is given to the mechanical response of the agents under ultrasound, and the subsequent physical and biological effects on the cells. Finally, the state-of-the-art in their pre-clinical and clinical implementation are discussed. Throughout the review, major challenges that need to be overcome in order to accelerate their clinical translation are highlighted.

Keywords: Blood-brain barrier (BBB); Cellular permeabilization; Endocytosis; Enhanced Permeability and Retention effect (EPR); Microbubbles; Nanodroplets; Sonoporation.