title: Nanoparticle delivery enhancement with acoustically activated microbubbles.
abstract: The application of microbubbles and ultrasound to deliver nanoparticle carriers for drug and gene delivery is an area that has expanded greatly in recent years. Under ultrasound exposure, microbubbles can enhance nanoparticle delivery by increasing cellular and vascular permeability. In this review, the underlying mechanisms of enhanced nanoparticle delivery with ultrasound and microbubbles and various proposed delivery techniques are discussed. Additionally, types of nanoparticles currently being investigated in preclinical studies, as well as the general limitations and benefits of a microbubble- based approach to nanoparticle delivery, are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University-UNC-NCSU, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Lee B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Mullin
authors.forename: Linsey C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dayton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D051379:Mice; D045423:Microbubbles; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000379:methods*