Ultrasound Mediated Enhancement of Nanoparticle Uptake in PC-3 Cancer Cells

Ultrasound in the presence of microbubbles brings in transient increase in cell membrane permeability, which allows the entry of foreign molecules into cells. This platform has been applied in in vitro and in vivo gene delivery studies in recent years[1–2]. The frequently used microbubbles are air or inert gas encapsulated in a protein, lipid or polymer which is commonly used as FDA approved contrast agents in diagnostic ultrasound. On exposure to ultrasound the microbubbles lead to formation of small pores on the cell membrane. This work concentrates on application of this platform to enhance cellular uptake of nanoparticles and thereby achieve enhanced drug delivery. Nanoparticles can be manipulated at the nano level and have been applied in the realm of cancer detection and treatment for imaging, targeting tumors, and drug delivery purposes [2].