University of Zurich researchers are advancing the field of neurotherapeutics with groundbreaking developments in the form of … bubbles.
That’s right: The next big development in the treatment of intricate brain conditions like tumors and neurological disorders could come in the form of small, precise deliveries made with the assistance of air.
Currently, care of brain-related conditions is often challenging because there can be severe side effects from drugs circulating through the brain without a specific target.
To identify a more targeted treatment strategy, scientists have been testing the use of minitransporters designed to deliver medications selectively to exact locations within the brain.
Using ultrasound, researchers have found a way to successfully maneuver microvehicles, made of gas-filled microbubbles and coated with fats to resemble cell membranes, through convoluted, tiny blood vessels in the brains of mice.
Notably, the microbubble delivery system is already approved for use in people — potentially streamlining the process.
And beyond targeted drug delivery, the ultrasound-guided microbubbles offer an additional benefit: they are naturally absorbed in the body after completing their therapeutic mission.
Unlike magnetic field-guided microvehicles, the notion of medicine delivered by bubbles that simply disband and become a part of the body, leaves us feeling almost … well, bubbly.
If scientists can refine their system for use in humans, the health applications could someday help those who have cancer, stroke or psychological conditions.