Ultrasound targeted microbubbles for theranostic applications in liver diseases: from molecular imaging to targeted therapy.

Abstract

Liver diseases, particularly chronic conditions leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, represent a major global health burden with high mortality rates, necessitating innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) technology has emerged as a promising theranostic platform, combining enhanced contrast imaging with targeted drug/gene delivery capabilities. When activated by ultrasound, these microbubbles exhibit unique biophysical behaviors that significantly improve drug penetration, tissue perfusion, and site-specific delivery. This review comprehensively examines recent advancements in UTMD-based strategies for liver disease management, including microbubble design and imaging-targeted functionalization, and mechanisms of ultrasound-enhanced drug delivery, especially emerging theranostic applications. We further discuss the underlying biophysical principles governing microbubble-ultrasound interactions and their translational potential, providing insights for developing next-generation precision medicine approaches for hepatic disorders.