Triggered drug release and enhanced drug transport from ultrasound-responsive nanoparticles

Abstract

Conventional systemic drug therapy across all drug classes does not adequately provide safe and efficacious treatment for a broad range of fatal diseases. To address this challenge, there have been major advances in stimulus-responsive technologies for active drug delivery. Ultrasound-mediated drug therapy in particular has garnered much attention because it is highly accessible, cost effective, drug agnostic, and noninvasive. Broadly speaking, ultrasound is capable of providing thermal and mechanical effects. As a result, ultrasound-responsive nanoparticles have been developed to react to specific ultrasound stimuli. In this chapter, we discuss the current challenges that face drug delivery to cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders. We then explore the different means by which ultrasound enables drug release, drug transport, and sonoporation of cell membranes from ultrasound-responsive nanoparticles.