Study of the interaction between intravascular microbubbles and ultrasound for therapeutic applications

• Grant number: 24/16425-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Chi Nan Pai
• Grantee: Camila Oshima Teixeira
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/06387-8 - High ultrasound mechanical index and microbubbles to reduce acute myocardial infarction burden I. HUBBLE-I study, AP.TEM

Abstract

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are responsible for the majority of deaths worldwide, and the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) highlights among them. In this subject, there are many treatments available to face this situation, for instance: angioplasty, coronary bypass and the usage of thrombolytics. However, all these options have risks and appear to be insufficient to diminish the threat these diseases present to the population. Therefore, new techniques are being studied to help deal with AMI, among them the sonothrombolysis stands out. This technique is based on the association of ultrasound with microbubbles to promote dissolution of clots which obstruct the coronary circulation, this occurs since the ultrasound waves stimulate phenomena on the microbubbles, like inertial cavitation, which leads to the destruction of the clot. There are many expectations around the usage of injectable microbubbles associated with ultrasound, not only for sonothrombolysis but also for applications in oncology, and even though this technique has many advantages there is much to be studied before its consolidation. For this purpose, this work aims to take a first step by the development of a systematic review which focus on organizing what is known about parameters that influence on the behavior of microbubbles, hence optimizing the research about sonothrombolysis and other applications and guiding future studies on the area.