Phase‐shift, stimuli‐responsive perfluorocarbon nanodroplets for drug delivery to cancer

Abstract

This review focuses on phase‐shift perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions whose action depends on an ultrasound‐triggered phase shift from a liquid to gas state. For drug‐loaded perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions, microbubbles are formed under the action of tumor‐directed ultrasound and drug is released locally into tumor volume in this process. This review covers in detail mechanisms involved in the droplet‐to‐bubble transition as well as mechanisms of ultrasound‐mediated drug delivery. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2012, 4:492–510. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1176 This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease