Systems and methods for targeted drug delivery
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent through a blood vessel having a blood brain barrier to a target location in a brain, comprising:
- targeting a region of the blood vessel proximate the target location in the brain;
selecting a plurality of nanodroplets configured to vaporize at an acoustic pressure suitable to open the blood brain barrier with microbubbles, wherein the nanodroplets are separate from the therapeutic agent;
delivering the plurality of nanodroplets to the region;
delivering the therapeutic agent to the region;
applying an ultrasound beam at the region at the acoustic pressure such that the nanodroplets vaporize, or cavitate, or convert to microbubbles that cavitate, thereby causing the blood brain barrier to open and allowing the therapeutic agent to diffuse out of the blood vessel through the open blood brain barrier and to the target location in the brain.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for opening a target tissue using nanodroplets are provided. An exemplary method can include targeting a region of tissue for opening, delivering a plurality of nanodroplets to the region, and applying an ultrasound beam at the region such that the nanodroplets cavitate, or convert to microbubbles that cavitate, thereby causing the target tissue to open.
176 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent through a blood vessel having a blood brain barrier to a target location in a brain, comprising:
-
targeting a region of the blood vessel proximate the target location in the brain; selecting a plurality of nanodroplets configured to vaporize at an acoustic pressure suitable to open the blood brain barrier with microbubbles, wherein the nanodroplets are separate from the therapeutic agent; delivering the plurality of nanodroplets to the region; delivering the therapeutic agent to the region; applying an ultrasound beam at the region at the acoustic pressure such that the nanodroplets vaporize, or cavitate, or convert to microbubbles that cavitate, thereby causing the blood brain barrier to open and allowing the therapeutic agent to diffuse out of the blood vessel through the open blood brain barrier and to the target location in the brain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent through a blood vessel having a blood brain barrier to a target location in a brain of a patient, comprising
delivering the therapeutic agent intranasally; -
selecting a plurality of nanodroplets configured to vaporize at an acoustic pressure suitable to open the blood brain barrier with microbubbles, wherein the nanodroplets are separate from the therapeutic agent; targeting a region of a blood vessel proximate the target location in the brain; delivering the plurality of nanodroplets into the patient such that the nanodroplets travel to the region of the blood vessel; applying an ultrasound beam at the region such that the nanodroplets vaporize, or cavitate, or convert to microbubbles that cavitate, thereby generating mechanical effects on the blood vessel and enhancing delivery of the therapeutic agent. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification