Controlled laser cavitation creates new possibilities for local drug delivery
Researchers from the MESA+ and MIRA research institutes of the University of Twente, The Netherlands, have developed a technology for the generation of imploding microbubbles (cavitation) with precise control, both in place and in time, as well as for the understanding of the physical mechanisms underlying the vaporization process. Upon heating with a laser the polymeric microcapsules are activated and release the oil core. Furthermore, the microcapsules can also be used as a novel contrast agent for photoacoustics, a diagnostic imaging modality where a laser beam is sent through tissue and the sound produced by absorbing particles is picked up for the quantification of increased blood flow or the localization of tumors. This work has been published in the prominent scientific magazine Nature Communications.