Cancer cell sonoporation at low acoustic amplitudes
Résumé
In this study we investigated the physical mechanisms of sonoporation, in order to understand and improve ultrasound-assisted drug and gene delivery. Sonoporation is the transient perme- abilisation and resealing of a cell membrane with the help of ultrasound and/or an ultrasound contrast agent. We studied the behaviour of ultrasound contrast agent microbubbles near can- cer cells at low acoustic amplitudes. After administering an ultrasound contrast agent, HeLa cells were subjected to 6.6-MHz ultrasound with a mechanical index of 0.2 and observed with a high-speed camera. Microbubbles were seen to enter cells and rapidly dissolve. We demonstrated that lipid-shelled microbubbles can be forced to enter cells at a low mechanical index. Hence, if a therapeutic agent is added to the shell of the bubble or inside the bubble, ultrasound-guided delivery could be facilitated at diagnostic settings. In addition, these results may have implications for the safety regulations on the use of ultrasound contrast agents for diagnostic imaging.
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