Microneedle‐Based Generation of Microbubbles in Cancer Tumors to Improve Ultrasound‐Assisted Drug Delivery

Abstract

Production of local microbubbles (MBs) with dense distribution in tumor environment is achieved by developing an integrated electrochemical stimulator on a microfabricated silicon needle covered by zinc‐oxide nanowires (ZnONWs). MBs are then exploded by external ultrasonic actuation, which induce microcavitations in tumor cells followed by direct entrance of anticancer drugs into cancer cells. This system, named ZnO nanowire‐based microbubble generator probe (ZnONW‐MGP), is tested on tumorized mice models (by MC4L2 breast cell lines). Mice treated by ZnONW‐MGP have ≈82% reduction in tumor size within 10 days with just 25% of conventional dose of paclitaxel while in the absence of the system, they have just a 15% reduction in tumor size. Presence of ZnO nanostructures on microneedles strongly reduces the size of MBs and enhances the efficacy of the sonoporation.

Artificial intelligence and guidance of medicine in the bubble

“…Sometimes these bubbles have difficulty reaching deep and hard ossified tissues [ 30 , 38 ]. The safety, ethics, effectiveness, and functionality of the process should be considered to improve the development of next generation of microbubbles with innovative engineering approaches to enhance the drug loading capacity of bubbles [ 21 , 79 – 81 ]. Designing of bubbles for precise imaging should revolutionize the field of molecular imaging and precision medicine for treatment of cancer, aging, cardiovascular and neurological diseases [ 13 , 30 , 82 ].…”

The promising shadow of microbubble over medical sciences: from fighting wide scope of prevalence disease to cancer eradication

“…Treated mice with this platform were shown to have an 82% decrease in tumor volume after 10 days with only 25% of the traditional dose of PTX, although only a 15% decrease in tumor volume was observed in the absence of the procedure. The presence of ZnO nanoparticles on microneedles significantly reduces the volume of microbubble and increases the efficiency of sonoporation [ 244 ]. An effective technique to overcome P-gp drug efflux pumps in resistance breast cancer cells has been demonstrated by targeted drug delivery to the nucleus using doxorubicin-liposome-microbubble complexes in combination with the US.…”

Microneedles Drug Delivery Systems for Treatment of Cancer: A Recent Update

“…Zandi and co-workers reported MNs of electrochemical probes tinted by zinc-oxide nanostructures were used to generate microbubbles. After insertion of such MNs into the tumor interstitial fluid, sonoporation was employed for the formation of microbubbles by electrolysis to deliver paclitaxel [ 148 ].…”