A Drug–Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsion with an Ultrathin Silica Coating for the Synergistic Effect of Chemotherapy and Ablation by High‐Intensity Focused Ultrasound

Abstract

The synergistic effect of chemotherapy and ablation using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is realized with a newly developed drug-delivery system. The system comprises an ultrathin silica shell surrounding a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoemulsion core containing the drug (CPT) and a perfluorocarbon (PFOB). This nanosystem presents many advantages in drug delivery, such as excellent structural stability, high drug-loading capacity, and rapid HIFU-mediated drug release.

<div>Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU)-induced acoustic droplet vaporization in phase-transition perfluoropentane nanodroplets modified by folate for ultrasound molecular imaging</div>

“…31 US generated many advantageous effects, including cavitation effect, mechanical effect, and heating effect, which efficiently promoted the phase-transition process of nanodroplets. 32 HIFU has been reported to induce ADV in PFC nanodroplets in many studies, 16,29,33 which can synergistically enhance the therapeutic efficiency of HIFU ablation on tumor. Clinically used US imaging system has also been induced to activate droplet vaporization by increasing MI, but it could not accurately control the ADV area and it may be induced in the whole sonication scope.…”

“…13 To solve the conflict between US imaging and particle penetration, phase-transition technology was introduced by developing nanoscaled MB precursors that effectively accumulate in tumor tissue by passive or active targeting and then convert into MBs in situ under tumordirected US. 14,15 Notably, our groups recently fabricated PFC nanosystems capable of phase transition that successfully delivered to release drugs and affect gene expression, 16 facilitate multimodal imaging, 17,18 and increase the therapeutic efficiencies of high-intensity focused US (HIFU) and chemoembolization. 19 The liquid-gas phase transition of perfluorohexane (PFH, boiling point [BP] 58°C-60°C) can be triggered by hyperthermia under HIFU; however, this operation is risky and invasive and does not allow intraoperative imaging.…”

Phase-transition Perfluorocarbon Nanoparticles for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapy

“…In the most recent work, the application of enhancing ultrasound/magnetic resonance dual-modality imaging and accelerating the therapeutic efficiency of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been observed in rabbit tumors after intravenous injection of gadolinium coated PFC nanoparticles [125]. Similar researches for multiple modality imaging and synergistic HIFU ablation of tumors are being investigated with PFC nanoparticles, such as the development of India ink incorporated phase-transition nanodroplets for photoacoustic/ ultrasound imaging and photoacoustic effect of tumor therapy [126], and a formulation of silica coated PFC nanoemulsion encapsulating camptothecin (CPT) for synergistic effect of chemotherapy and HIFU ablation in rabbit tumors [127].…”

A case for the therapeutic use of perfluorocarbon in pulmonary atelectasis

“…A phase II trial is being carried out, the results of which are expected later this year. PFC is currently used in vitreoretinal surgery4 and as an alternative means of drug delivery in chemotherapy 5…”