Could a New Ultrasound Drug Delivery System Be the Answer to Reducing Side Effects?

New Delhi, Aug 18 (NationPress) A team of researchers from the US is developing a revolutionary non-invasive system that utilizes ultrasound technology to deliver medications with remarkable precision throughout the body, while simultaneously minimizing side effects.

This innovative approach, spearheaded by Stanford University scientists, employs nanoparticles to encapsulate drugs and releases them precisely at targeted locations using ultrasound.

According to a study published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, the method has been successfully tested in rats, demonstrating its ability to deliver ketamine to specific areas of the brain and painkillers to targeted nerves in the limbs. The researchers discovered that a new sucrose formulation made these nanoparticles not only safer but also more stable and easier to produce.

“It turns out just a little bit of sugar is all you need to make this work,” stated Raag Airan, Assistant Professor of Radiology at Stanford Medicine.

The team found that incorporating a 5 percent sucrose solution into the nanoparticles enhanced their stability in the body while allowing them to respond effectively to ultrasound.

This means that most of the medication is released exactly where it’s needed, as a focused beam of ultrasound is applied externally to target the desired area.

This system has the potential to improve the safety and effectiveness of a wide variety of drugs.

“We can maximize the therapeutic effect while minimizing off-target effects,” Airan explained.

Initially, the nanoparticles were designed with a polymer shell containing a liquid core made of uncommon chemical compounds. However, after realizing it was ineffective, the team experimented by adding various common substances, from polymers to salts, to modify its ultrasound response.

Ultimately, they discovered that adding sugar—specifically, a 5 percent sucrose solution—achieved an optimal balance of ultrasound responsiveness and stability at body temperature.

In their experiments, the researchers compared rats that received a direct injection of free, unencapsulated ketamine against those that received ketamine encapsulated in nanoparticles with 5 percent sucrose.

Upon applying ultrasound to a targeted brain area, the nanoparticles delivered approximately three times more medication to that specific region compared to other areas of the brain, showcasing its ability for targeted drug release.

If successful in humans, this system could allow clinicians to isolate the emotional effects of ketamine, potentially treating conditions such as depression while mitigating its dissociative effects.