title: Intracellular acoustic droplet vaporization in a single peritoneal macrophage for drug delivery applications.
abstract: This study investigated the acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) of perfluoropentane (PFP) droplets in single droplet-loaded macrophages (DLMs) by insonation with single three-cycle ultrasound pulses. Transient responses of intracellular ADV within a single DLM were observed with synchronous high-speed photography and cavitation detection. Ultrasound B-mode imaging was further applied to demonstrate the contrast enhancement of ADV-generated bubbles from a group of DLMs. The PFP droplets incorporated in a DLM can be liberated from the cell body after being vaporized into gas bubbles. Inertial cavitation can be simultaneously induced at the same time that bubbles appear. The coalescence of bubbles occurring at the onset of vaporization may facilitate gas embolotherapy and ultrasound imaging. Macrophages can be potential carriers transporting PFP droplets to avascular and hypoxic regions in tumors for ultrasound-controlled drug release and ADV-based tumor therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan 30013.
authors.forename: Shih-Tsung
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Chih-Kuang
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010781:Photography; D014835:Volatilization; D010420:Pentanes
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; C008806:perfluoropentane; D010420:Pentanes