Ultrasound-Mediated Cancer Therapeutics Delivery using Micelles and Liposomes: A Review

Abstract

Background: Existing cancer treatment methods have many undesirable side effects that greatly reduce the quality of life of cancer patients. Objective: This review will focus on the use of ultrasound-responsive liposomes and polymeric micelles in cancer therapy. Results: Nanoparticles have proven promising as cancer theranostic tools. Nanoparticles are selective in nature, have reduced toxicity and controllable drug release patterns, making them ideal carriers for anticancer drugs. Numerous nanocarriers have been designed to combat malignancies, including liposomes, micelles, dendrimers, solid nanoparticles, quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, and, more recently, metal-organic frameworks. The temporal and spatial release of therapeutic agents from these nanostructures can be controlled using internal and external triggers, including pH, enzymes, redox, temperature, magnetic and electromagnetic waves, and ultrasound. Ultrasound is an attractive modality because it is non-invasive, focused on the diseased site, and has a synergistic effect with anticancer drugs. Conclusion: The functionalization of micellar and liposomal surfaces with targeting moieties and ultrasound as a triggering mechanism can help improve the selectivity and enable the spatiotemporal control of drug release from nanocarriers. Conclusion: The functionalization of micellar and liposomal surfaces with targeting moieties and ultrasound as a triggering mechanism can help improve the selectivity and enable the spatiotemporal control of drug release from nanocarriers.

Fast volumetric ultrasound facilitates high-resolution 3D mapping of tissue compartments

“…With a wide field of view, 3D images of lesions are acquired with a simultaneous view of major anatomical landmarks, facilitating both communication between members of the health care team and repeated imaging of suspicious lesions over time. Last, there is an enormous spectrum of US-mediated therapeutics that are on the horizon, spanning ablative therapies ( 34 ), drug and gene delivery ( 35 ), opening of the blood brain barrier for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease ( 36 ), and the use of sonogenetics ( 37 ) to modulate cell-based therapeutics in situ. All of these technologies could benefit from video-rate volumetric views, whereas the conventional US imaging or tomography lacks either wide field of view or high volume rate.…”

The investigation of oncolytic viruses in the field of cancer therapy

“…This combined therapy strategy not only improves the targeting and therapeutic efficacy of OVs but also reduces their distribution in normal tissues, thereby minimizing adverse effects. Various targeting ligands incorporated into acoustically active materials, such as nanoparticles ( 170 , 177 ), polymeric micelles, and liposomes ( 178 ), contribute to this effect. Therefore, the future application of ultrasound-targeted technology combined with OVs promises to become an efficient, precise, and comprehensive cancer treatment strategy, offering new hope for cancer patients.…”

pH-Responsive Nanocarriers in Cancer Therapy

“…Dendrimers are very ordered, branched polymeric nanostructures containing a core from which symmetric branches (dendrons) grow radially outward. Drugs and other molecules can be incorporated into dendrimers through encapsulation, conjugation, or complexation [ 54 ]. Their hyperbranched architecture and high loading capacity make dendrimers attractive drug delivery vehicles.…”