Review of ultrasound mediated drug delivery for cancer treatment: updates from pre-clinical studies

Therapeutic ultrasound has been used to thermally ablate solid tumors since the 90s, and a variety of cancers are presently being treated clinically, taking advantage of ultrasound- or MR-imaging guidance and monitoring. However, an ever-increasing body of preclinical literature demonstrates how ultrasound can achieve bioeffects beyond thermal ablation, including non-invasive drug delivery to target cancer cells. In this review, we will provide a summary of in vivo ultrasound-based strategies shown to deliver drug payloads to tumor environments, to enhance permeability of vessel walls and cell membranes, and to activate drugs and genes in situ.