US Liposomes to Diagnose and Treat Heart Disease

Once at the target, the echogenic liposomes (ELIPS) produce an acoustic shadow that improves the ability of US to visualize and diagnose the extent of plaque or clots. Furthermore, the ELIPS can be treated to encapsulate drugs such as antibiotics or thrombolytic drugs or even gene therapy that can be released at the site of a plaque or clot into living cells. This is caused by cavitation, the ability of US to increase the energy of the microbubble, which then opens the cell membrane and allows drugs to enter.

"The science of ultrasound, in addition to its imaging capability, also lies in its biologic effects,” said David D. McPherson, M.D., professor of cardiology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University (Chicago, IL, USA), who developed the new technique along with colleagues. "By harnessing the physical effects of ultrasound, we can physiologically evaluate and therapeutically affect vascular and biologic tissues.”




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Feinberg School of Medicine