Effective drug release from safe ultrasound-triggered nanocarriers
Selective delivery of medication into specified tissue targets would realize the promise ofpersonalized medicine with minimal side effects. Such an approach could be particularlytransformative for patients with brain disorders, in whom drugs could be released in the impairedbrain circuits at high concentration while sparing other brain regions and organs. Focusedultrasound provides noninvasive and practical means to release drugs from nanocarriers selectivelyat its target. However, which nanoparticle formulations provide safe and effective release andunder which ultrasound parameters has been unclear. To expedite regulatory approval, wetested release effectiveness from nanocarriers filled with perfluorocarbon cores of relatively highboiling points (up to 142◦C). We confirmed the safety of these nanocarriers in non-humanprimates. Crucially, we found that these safe, high-boiling-point nanocarriers can be used foreffective release so long as they are activated by ultrasound of frequencies lower than thoseused previously (300 kHz). This study informs the formulation and release parameters for safeand effective drug delivery in specific parts of the body or brain regions.