Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41707636›Full record

SynthesisUltrasonics sonochemistry2026

Advances in ultrasound-activated nano-sonosensitizers for cancer treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yasin Ayyami, Masoumeh Dastgir, Maedeh Yektamanesh, Hamed Zamani, Soheila Sharifian Jazzi, Bahare Arjmand, Amanda P Siegel, Omid Abouie Mehrizi, Rayyan Manwar, Hamed Hamishehkar and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Ultrasonics sonochemistry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

11 authors.

Yasin AyyamiStudent Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Masoumeh DastgirDepartment of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Maedeh YektamaneshDepartment of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Hamed ZamaniDepartment of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Soheila Sharifian JazziDepartment of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Bahare ArjmandDepartment of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Amanda P SiegelRichard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Omid Abouie MehriziStudent Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Rayyan ManwarRichard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Engineering Technology, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, 77340, USA.
Hamed HamishehkarDrug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Research Center of New Material and Green Chemistry, Khazar University, 41 Mehseti Street, Baku AZ1096, Azerbaijan. Electronic address: hamishehkarh@tbzmed.ac.ir.
Kamran AvanakiRichard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: avanaki@uic.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ultrasound (US)-activated nanotherapies represent a transformative frontier in oncology, leveraging the noninvasive deep penetration of acoustic energy for targeted tumor destruction. However, this field lacks a quantitative synthesis to guide the rational design of sono-sensitizing nanoparticles (NPs) and the optimization of therapeutic protocols. To address this issue, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of 144 recent research reports, establishing an evidence-based design hierarchy for nano-sonosensitizers. A meta-analysis of 86 in vitro studies revealed a profound synergistic reduction in cell viability when NPs were activated by US (pooled standard mean difference, SMD = -13.16, 95% CI [-14.67, -11.64], p < 0.001). NP size was the most influential design factor. Particles smaller than 50 nm showing the greatest effect in vitro (SMD = -13.32) and strongest tumor reduction in vivo (SMD = 5), a finding consistent with optimal exploitation of the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect for tumor accumulation. Specific roles of materials were identified: polymeric NPs excelled in drug delivery (SMD = -19.36 versus US alone), while inorganic NPs served as direct sonocatalysts. This work provides a definitive quantitative framework to advance US-activated nanotherapy from exploratory discovery to clinical precision. To realize this potential, we recommend the adoption of standardized acoustic dosimetry and material characterization and inclusion of safety studies (ISO 10993. We hope that this review will accelerate the development of fundamental studies and therapeutic US applications for sonosensitizing NPs.

Indexed as

NanoparticlesNeoplasmsUltrasonic WavesAnimalsCell SurvivalHumansCancersMicrobubblesNano delivery systemNanoparticlesTherapeutic ultrasoundUltrasound radiation

Identifiers

PMID41707636
PMCPMC12925597

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.