Ultrasound-Mediated Cancer Therapeutics Delivery using Micelles and Liposomes: A Review

Background: Existing cancer treatment methods have many undesirable side effects that greatly reduce the quality of life of cancer patients. Objective: This review will focus on the use of ultrasound-responsive liposomes and polymeric micelles in cancer therapy. Methods: This review presents a survey of the literature regarding ultrasound-triggered micelles and liposomes using articles recently published in various journals, as well as some new patents in this field. Results: Nanoparticles have proven promising as cancer theranostic tools. Nanoparticles are selective in nature, have reduced toxicity, and controllable drug release patterns making them ideal carriers for anticancer drugs. Numerous nanocarriers have been designed to combat malignancies, including liposomes, micelles, dendrimers, solid nanoparticles, quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, and, more recently, metal-organic frameworks. The temporal and spatial release of therapeutic agents from these nanostructures can be controlled using internal and external triggers, including pH, enzymes, redox, temperature, magnetic and electromagnetic waves, and ultrasound. Ultrasound is an attractive modality because it is non-invasive, can be focused on the diseased site, and has a synergistic effect with anticancer drugs. Conclusion: The functionalization of micellar and liposomal surfaces with targeting moieties and the use of ultrasound as a triggering mechanism can help improve the selectivity and enable the spatiotemporal control of drug release from nanocarriers.