Therapeutic Use of Ultrasound Targeted Microbubble Destruction: A Review of Non-Cardiac Applications

Zusammenfassung

Die Entwicklung von Ultraschallkontrastmitteln der zweiten Generation hat zu einer Erweiterung der diagnostischen Optionen in der Ultraschalldiagnostik geführt. Ihre physikalischen Eigenschaften erlauben auch einen therapeutischen Einsatz. So konnte gezeigt werden, dass die ultraschallgesteuerte Zerstörung von gasgefüllten Mikrosphären für die organspezifische Freisetzung von gentherapeutischen Vektoren und Medikamenten genutzt werden kann. Die meisten Anwendungen auf diesem Gebiet wurden bislang am Herzen getestet. Allerdings ist dieses nicht-invasive Verfahren auf alle Organe übertragbar, die dem Ultraschall zugänglich sind. In dieser Übersichtsarbeit sollen die theoretischen Hintergründe dieser Methode sowie die nichtkardialen Applikationen beschrieben werden.

Abstract

The development of second generation ultrasound contrast agents has extended the diagnostic scope of ultrasound imaging. Due to their physical characteristics, a therapeutic application of such microbubble based contrast agents has been promoted. Recently, several groups have demonstrated that ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) may deliver drugs or gene therapy vectors to organs accessible by ultrasound, thus providing a new technique for non-invasive, organ specific delivery of bioactive substances. Most applications in this field have been tested in cardiac models, but other organs can be treated as well. This article will give an overview of the background of UTMD and its non-cardiac applications.

Schlüsselwörter

Kontrastmittel - Ultraschall - Medikamententherapie - Gentherapie - Echolardiographie

Key words

Contrast agents - ultrasound - drug therapy - gene therapy - echocardiography

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