Standardization of Focused Ultrasound–Induced Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Opening: A Systematic Review of Protocols, Efficacy, and Safety Outcomes

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Key Points

  • Researchers conducted a systematic review of focused ultrasound parameters used to disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for drug delivery.
  • The team gathered and collated 107 preclinical and clinical studies, summarized the efficacy and safety findings, and identified gaps and limitations for further study.
  • The group concluded that clinical translation will not become robust until protocols and parameters for BBB disruption have been standardized.

Ultrasound–Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption for Drug Delivery: A Systematic Review of Protocols, Efficacy, and Safety Outcomes from Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Source: Gandhi K, Barzegar-Fallah A, Banstola A, Rizwan SB, Reynolds JNJ. Ultrasound-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption for Drug Delivery: A Systematic Review of Protocols, Efficacy, and Safety Outcomes from Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Pharmaceutics. 2022 Apr 11;14(4):833. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040833.

A research team based at the University of Otago’s Brain Health Research Centre in New Zealand conducted a systematic review of focused ultrasound parameters used to disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to deliver drugs or biologicals to the brain.

The team gathered and collated protocols and parameters from preclinical and clinical studies, summarized the efficacy and safety findings, and identified gaps and limitations for further study. After cataloguing 107 articles, the factors they identified that affected safety and efficacy were the following:

  • Type of microbubbles used
  • Transducer frequency
  • Peak negative pressure
  • Pulse characteristics
  • Ultrasound dosing

The group concluded that clinical translation will not become robust until protocols and parameters for BBB disruption have been standardized.

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