ULTRASOUND MEDIATED DELIVERY OF DRUGS

摘要

Disclosed is an ultrasound (US) mediated delivery of therapeutic agents, such as the delivery of a drug, gene, nanoparticle or radioisotope, using a bi-phasic microparticle system including gas microbubbles, emulsion microdroplets and clusters thereof. Also, disclosed are a cluster composition and a pharmaceutical composition, and their use for delivery of therapeutic agents and as a contrast agent for ultrasound imaging. Moreover, disclosed are a method for delivering such therapeutic agents and the use of said compositions.

主权项

1. A cluster composition which comprises a suspension of clusters in an aqueous biocompatible medium, wherein said clusters have a diameter in the range of 1 to 10 μm, and a circularity of <0.9 and comprises:
(i) a first component which comprises a gas microbubble and a first stabilizer to stabilize said gas microbubble; and (ii) a second component which comprises a microdroplet comprising an oil phase and a second stabilizer to stabilize said microdroplet, wherein the oil phase comprises a diffusible component capable of diffusing into said gas microbubble so as to at least transiently increase the size thereof, wherein said second component optionally further comprises a first therapeutic agent; wherein the microbubble and the microdroplet of said first and second components have opposite surface charges and form said clusters via attractive electrostatic interactions.