High resolution ultrafast imaging of microbubble destruction during sonoporation

Ultrasound-mediated drug delivery using microbubbles is a growing field with applications ranging from targeted chemotherapy delivery to permeating the blood brain barrier. However, the precise parameters that induce increased cellular permeability are not fully understood. For sonoporation efficiency, a high microbubble concentration is preferred, but acoustic shadowing limits the ultrasound delivery to the cells. Our hypothesis is that high-resolution ultrafast imaging will demonstrate the interaction of ultrasound with microbubbles during the sonoporation process to carefully control the ultrasound dose. This work has two aims: 1) to accurately image the ultrasound delivery to cells with high-resolution ultrafast imaging, and 2) to determine the dependence of microbubble concentration and acoustic environment on cavitation activity. This will lead to optimization of sonoporation.