title: Nanobubbles: a promising efficient tool for therapeutic delivery.
abstract: In recent decades ultrasound-guided delivery of drugs loaded on nanocarriers has been the focus of increasing attention to improve therapeutic treatments. Ultrasound has often been used in combination with microbubbles, micron-sized spherical gas-filled structures stabilized by a shell, to amplify the biophysical effects of the ultrasonic field. Nanometer size bubbles are defined nanobubbles. They were designed to obtain more efficient drug delivery systems. Indeed, their small sizes allow extravasation from blood vessels into surrounding tissues and ultrasound-targeted site-specific release with minimal invasiveness. Additionally, nanobubbles might be endowed with improved stability and longer residence time in systemic circulation. This review will describe the physico-chemical properties of nanobubbles, the formulation parameters and the drug loading approaches, besides potential applications as a therapeutic tool.
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Science & Technology, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 9, 10125, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cavalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Science & Technology, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 9, 10125, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soster
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Science & Technology, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 9, 10125, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Argenziano
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013010:Sonication
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D011108:Polymers; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Laplace pressure; acoustic droplet vaporization; nanobubbles; nanomedicine; ultrasound-triggered drug delivery