Ultrasound-mediated targeted microbubble sonoporation of endothelial cells

Molecular imaging using ultrasound makes use of targeted microbubbles. In this study we investigated whether these microbubbles could also be used to induce drug uptake in endothelial cells. CD31-targeted microbubbles insonified at 1 MHz induced sonoporation when they were larger than 3.0 μm or when their relative vibration amplitude was larger than 0.5. No relationship was found between the position of the microbubble on the cell and the induction of sonoporation.