Apoptosis induction by ultrasound and microbubble mediated drug delivery and gene therapy

Curr Mol Med. 2014;14(6):723-36. doi: 10.2174/1566524014666140804165245.

Abstract

Apoptosis induction provides a promising strategy for tumor gene therapy. Non-invasive ultrasound is a novel non-virus transfer method. In the field of cancer therapy, it has been found that ultrasound alone or together with microbubble represents an appealing, efficient and novel technique, which could deliver therapeutic gene or drug to specific organs or tissues in a simple and noninvasive way. Moreover, apoptosis induction mediated by the novel ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction technique is safer and more effective than other methods, inactivating tumor cells, restraining cell proliferation and improving therapeutic effects of gene or chemotherapeutic drugs. In this paper, we reviewed apoptosis induction by ultrasound and microbubble mediated drug delivery and gene therapy in vitro and in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / radiation effects
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Microbubbles*
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Ultrasonics*

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • ferric oxide