Involved researchers: Nicolas TAULIER, Wladimir URBACH

Problem. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a protective layer surrounding the blood vessels of the brain that prevents most drugs from entering. It can be temporarily opened by injecting microbubbles into its vicinity and oscillating them with ultrasound. However, microbubbles manufacturers advise against this method due to the risk of hemorrhage caused by cavitation and the variability in the sizes of larger bubbles.

Proposed Solutions. To address these issues, we propose replacing the microbubbles with perfluorocarbon microdroplets. Using microfluidics, we produce uniform microdroplets in water. These droplets have a longer in vivo lifetime, lasting for hours compared to the few minutes of microbubbles. Ultrasound triggers the acoustic vaporization of these droplets, creating a stable population of bubbles that oscillate near the BBB. We study the process of opening the BBB using a PDMS microfluidic chip that is seeded with endothelial cells. This BBB on-chip setup allows for a detailed characterization of the BBB’s temporary opening and its underlying mechanisms.

This work benefits from the collaboration with Ayako Yamada.