TitleTherapeutic effects of paclitaxel-containing ultrasound contrast agents.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsTartis, MShortencar, McCallan, J, Lum, AFH, LaBell, R, Stieger-Vanegas, SM, Matsunaga, TO, Ferrara, KW
JournalUltrasound in medicine & biology
Volume32
Issue11
Pagination1771-80
Date Published2006 Nov
KeywordsCultured, Tumor Cells
Abstract

Drug delivery vehicles that combine ultrasonic and molecular targeting are shown to locally concentrate a drug in a region-of-interest. The drug delivery vehicles, referred to as acoustically active lipospheres (AALs), are microbubbles surrounded by a shell of oil and lipid. In a region limited to the focal area of ultrasound application, circulating AALs are deflected by radiation force to a vessel wall and can subsequently be fragmented. Ligands targeting the alphavbeta3 integrin are conjugated to the AAL shell and increase in vitro binding by 26.5-fold over nontargeted agents. Toxicity assays demonstrate that paclitaxel-containing AALs exert a greater antiproliferative effect after insonation than free paclitaxel at an equivalent concentration. Lastly, ultrasound and molecular targeting are combined to deliver a model drug to the endothelium and interstitium of chorioallantoic membrane vasculature in vivo.