sonoporation

Sonoporation uses ultrasound, often with gas-filled microbubbles, to transiently increase cell membrane permeability, enabling delivery of therapeutic agents such as DNA, RNA, drugs, or proteins into cells that are otherwise difficult to transfect or treat.

The mechanism relies on acoustic cavitation: ultrasound causes microbubbles to oscillate and collapse, generating mechanical stresses that form transient pores in the cell membrane. Pore lifetimes range from minutes to hours and depend on ultrasound parameters, bubble size, and cell type.

Methods commonly employ an ultrasound transducer with microbubble contrast agents. Parameters such as frequency from kilohertz to megahertz, acoustic pressure, pulse duration, and repetition rate are tuned to balance delivery efficiency with cell viability. Microbubbles serve as cavitation nuclei.

Applications include non-viral delivery of DNA, RNA, and proteins for in vitro studies and in vivo therapies, tumor treatment, and vaccine delivery. Focused ultrasound with microbubbles can transiently open the blood–brain barrier to facilitate CNS drug delivery, in research and some clinical contexts.

Advantages include non-viral, spatially targeted delivery and adjustable parameters; limitations include variable efficiency, potential tissue damage or inflammation, and the need for specialized equipment and careful optimization.

Status: Clinical use of sonoporation remains largely investigational, though microbubble contrast agents are approved for imaging and are used in research on delivery methods.