Can Microbubbles Deliver Gene Therapy?

An Italian diagnostic imaging company is teaming with a Chicago startup to study whether microbubbles can deliver personalized gene therapy to treat high LDL cholesterol. Microbubble technology, combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound, has been used diagnostically for years and more recently has inspired research for treatment of disease. Milan-based Bracco Imaging, S.p.A. is working with Steven Feinstein, a professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center and president of SonoGene, LLC to pursue the treatment possibilities further. A CEUS researcher, Feinstein is also co-president of the  International Contrast Ultrasound Society. “The experience Bracco has developed during the past decade allows us to understand and control the production of microbubbles as well as the interaction with the ultrasound beam in a way which enables Bracco to design dedicated microbubbles also for therapeutic use,” Roberto Cattaneo, a spokesperson for Bracco, told MD+DI in an email.  “Many years of pre-clinical research in the Bracco lab as well as in academic labs have identified clinical scenarios where the therapeutic use of microbubbles seems technically feasible and provides a significant clinical value.” Microbubble manufacturer Bracco has been working for the past decade to understand and control the bubbles’ interaction with the ultrasound beam so that they can be deployed for therapeutic use. Bracco chose to work with SonoGene because of its “dedicated knowledge...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: R & D Source Type: news