The UPMC Cam used to Explore Gene Therapy via Ultrasound (IMAGE)

University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences

The UPMC Cam used to Explore Gene Therapy via Ultrasound

Caption

Pictured is a fluorescently labeled endothelial cell monolayer, pseudocolorized in blue/green, and imaged using spectral confocal microscopy. One cell has been selectively perforated via ultrasound-induced microbubble cavitation (simultaneously captured by ultrafast imaging, top panels), allowing the entrance of a model therapeutic (orange). We investigated the biophysics of how rapid microbubble oscillation triggered by ultrasound waves can be used to enhance cellular uptake and increase vascular permeability. This approach, referred to as sonoporation, has utility in selectively delivering large molecules, such as therapeutic nucleic acids for cancer and cardiovascular disease, directly into target cells.

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University of Pittsburgh

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