Interaction dynamics and bioeffects of acoustically activated microbubbles with biological membranes

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Ideally, therapeutic drugs would be delivered entirely to diseased tissues, sparring healthy tissue. However, existing therapeutic drugs generally interact with both diseased and healthy tissues. Treatment effectiveness of cytotoxic drugs such as chemotherapy depends on the extent to which their constituents penetrate tissues and cells to reach their intended target and is limited by toxic side effects exerted on tissues and cells not associated with the disease. Of particular interest to our group is the ability of sound energy in combination with tiny bubbles, which are smaller than red blood cells, to non-invasively improve delivery of drugs to diseased cells and tissues deep with the body. Our group will examine the interaction of sound energy with bubbles and their effect on live cells with the aim of answering fundamental questions on the biophysical mechanisms involved, as this remains a subject of considerable investigation. Bubbles, exposed to sound energy at megahertz frequency (millions of oscillation per second) that undergo oscillation and/or violent collapse, will be characterized using acoustic methods and a high-speed camera (500,000 frames per second). Cells will be analyzed using a variety of biological methods. Improving our understanding of the processes underpinning the ability of ultrasound and bubbles to selectively and locally deliver therapeutic agents will allow optimization of drug-treatments and also lead to a better understanding of the strengths and limitations of this technology - ultrasound targeted delivery of drugs - with regards to its clinical use.