title: Sonodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy: First steps towards a sound approach for microbe inactivation.
abstract: Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) relies on the ability of ultrasound to activate sonosensitisers and trigger the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to achieve cell death. SDT was explored as an anticancer approach until 6 years ago, when its potential application as an antimicrobial strategy was pointed out and the term "sonoantimicrobial chemotherapy" (SACT) was coined. The excellent penetration of ultrasound in liquid media make SACT a particularly promising approach for the non-invasive treatment of deep-seated infections, and for the reduction of bacterial load in turbid water. In this review we provide an account of the brief history of SACT, from its molecular bases to the current state of the art and perspective applications.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Torino, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serpe
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: F.Giuntini@ljmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giuntini
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050296:Microbial Viability; D000069453:Ultrasonic Waves
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: Microbial inactivation; PDT; Photodynamic therapy; SACT; SDT; Sonodynamic therapy; Sonosensitisers; Ultrasound