Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40353846›Full record

ReviewExpert opinion on drug delivery2025

Progress and potential of nanobubbles for ultrasound-mediated drug delivery.

Laura E Chen, Pinunta Nittayacharn, Agata A Exner

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Expert opinion on drug delivery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Laura E ChenDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Pinunta NittayacharnDepartment of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Agata A ExnerDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Funding

Medical Scientist Training Program at Case Western Reserve UniversityT32GM152319 · NIGMS · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · PI Heather Broihier, Alex Yee-Chen Huang · 2024 to 2026
$5.1M
Drug-Loaded Nanobubbles for Ultrasound Enhanced Delivery to Colon Cancer Liver MetastasisR01EB028144 · NIBIB · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · PI EXNER, AGATA A · 2019 to 2023
$2.3M
Enhancement of tumor radiation response by ultrasound-driven nanobubble stimulationR01CA260826 · NCI · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · PI CZARNOTA, GREGORY JAN, EXNER, AGATA A · 2021 to 2024
$1.9M
NCI NIH HHS R01 CA260826NIBIB NIH HHS R01 EB028144NIGMS NIH HHS T32 GM152319
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDespite much progress, nanomedicine-based drug therapies in oncology remain limited by systemic toxicity and insufficient particle accumulation in the tumor. To address these barriers, formulations responsive to external physical stimuli have emerged. One most promising system is the ultrasound stimulation of drug-loaded, gas-core particles (bubbles). Ultrasound induces bubble cavitation for cell and tissue permeabilization, triggers on-demand drug release, and provides opportunities for real-time imaging of delivery. AREAS COVERED: Here, we focus on shell-stabilized, gas-core nanoparticles (also termed nanobubbles or ultrafine bubbles) and their role in ultrasound-mediated therapeutic delivery to tumors. This review frames the advantages of nanobubbles within the ongoing deficits in nanomedicine, describes mechanisms of ultrasound-mediated therapy, and details formulation techniques for nanobubble delivery systems. It then highlights the past decade of research in nanobubble-facilitated drug delivery for cancer therapy and anticipates new directions in the field. EXPERT OPINION: Nanobubble ultrasound contrast agents offer a spatiotemporally triggerable therapeutic coupled with a safe, accessible imaging modality. Nanobubbles can be loaded with diverse therapeutic cargoes to treat disease and overcome numerous barriers limiting delivery to solid tumors. Close attention to formulation, characterization methods, acoustic testing parameters, and the biological mechanisms of nanobubble delivery will facilitate preclinical research toward clinical adoption.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsDrug Delivery SystemsMicrobubblesNanoparticlesNeoplasmsAnimalsContrast MediaDrug LiberationHumansNanomedicineAntineoplastic AgentsContrast MediaBubblescancer therapydrug deliverynanobubblesnanomedicinestimuli-responsiveultrasoundultrasound contrast agents

Identifiers

PMID40353846
PMCPMC12213167

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.