Ultrastable shelled PFC nanobubbles: A platform for ultrasound-assisted diagnostics, and therapy

Patrizia Nadia Hanieh; Caterina Ricci; Andrea Bettucci; Roberto Marotta; Carmel Mary Moran; Laura Cantù; Maria Carafa; Federica Rinaldi; Elena Del Favero; Carlotta Marianecci

doi:10.1016/j.nano.2022.102611

Ultrastable shelled PFC nanobubbles: A platform for ultrasound-assisted diagnostics, and therapy

Nanomedicine. 2022 Nov:46:102611. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2022.102611. Epub 2022 Oct 10.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: patrizianadia.hanieh@uniroma1.it.
² Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20090 Segrate, Italy. Electronic address: caterina.ricci@unimi.it.
³ Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Scarpa 16, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.bettucci@uniroma1.it.
⁴ Italian Institute of Technology, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy. Electronic address: roberto.marotta@iit.it.
⁵ Medical Physics, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Electronic address: carmel.moran@ed.ac.uk.
⁶ Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20090 Segrate, Italy. Electronic address: laura.cantu@unimi.it.
⁷ Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: maria.carafa@uniroma1.it.
⁸ Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: federica.rinaldi@uniroma1.it.
⁹ Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20090 Segrate, Italy. Electronic address: elena.delfavero@unimi.it.
¹⁰ Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: carlotta.marianecci@uniroma1.it.

PMID: 36228995
DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2022.102611

Abstract

Nanoscale echogenic bubbles (NBs), can be used as a theranostic platform for the localized delivery of encapsulated drugs. However, the generation of NBs is challenging, because they have lifetimes as short as milliseconds in solution. The aim of this work has been the optimization of a preparation method for the generation of stable NBs, characterized by measuring: a) acoustic efficiency, b) nano-size, to ensure passive tumour targeting, c) stability during storage and after injection and d) ability to entrap drugs. NBs are monodisperse and ultra-stable, their stability achieved by generation of an amphiphilic multilamellar shell able to efficiently retain the PFC gas. The NBs perform as good acoustic enhancers over a wide frequency range and out of resonant conditions, as tested in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, proving to be a potential platform for the production of versatile carriers to be used in ultrasound-assisted diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic applications.

Keywords: Acoustics; Drug delivery; Nanobubbles; Theranostics; Ultrasound contrast agents.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acoustics*
Contrast Media
Microbubbles*
Ultrasonography / methods

Substances

Contrast Media