Noninvasive and Targeted Drug Delivery to the Brain Using Focused Ultrasound

2013/01/21 by Alison Burgess, Kullervo Hynynen · 2 citations
Engineering · Materials Science · Medicine · #Ultrasound and Hyperthermia Applications #Ultrasound and Cavitation Phenomena #Ultrasound Imaging and Elastography

paper · doi:10.1021/cn300191b

openalex publication_date 2013/01/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04

Abstract

Brain diseases are notoriously difficult to treat due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Here, we review the development of focused ultrasound (FUS) as a noninvasive method for BBB disruption, aiding in drug delivery to the brain. FUS can be applied through the skull to a targeted region in the brain. When combined with microbubbles, FUS causes localized and reversible disruption of the BBB. The cellular mechanisms of BBB disruption are presented. Several therapeutic agents have been delivered to the brain resulting in significant improvements in pathology in models of glioblastoma and Alzheimer's disease. The requirements for clinical translation of FUS will be discussed.

Citations

• High-intensity focused ultrasound selectively disrupts the blood-brain barrier in vivo
• Drug Transport across the Blood–Brain Barrier
• Cellular mechanisms of the blood-brain barrier opening induced by ultrasound in presence of microbubbles
• Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier by Low-Frequency (28-kHz) Ultrasound: A Novel Pinhole-Assisted Mechanical Scanning Device
• Noninvasive MR Imaging–guided Focal Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier in Rabbits

Cited by

• The Size of Blood–Brain Barrier Opening Induced by Focused Ultrasound is Dictated by the Acoustic Pressure
• Focused ultrasound for intracranial drug delivery [wikipedia]

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• The Size of Blood–Brain Barrier Opening Induced by Focused Ultrasound is Dictated by the Acoustic Pressure
• Neurosurgical Techniques for Disruption of the Blood–Brain Barrier for Glioblastoma Treatment
• Focused Ultrasound-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Opening: Association with Mechanical Index and Cavitation Index Analyzed by Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic-Resonance Imaging