Modifications of Nanobubble Therapy for Cancer Treatment - Review

Sep 22, 2026

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Cancer development is driven by genetic mutations in primary cells, with about 5–10% of cancers arising from acquired defects often linked to environmental and lifestyle factors. More than half of cancer deaths result from drug resistance, so local delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs is explored to reduce toxicity by raising dose at targeted sites while lowering circulating plasma levels. Nanobubbles are highlighted as non-invasive, targetable drug distribution systems, with in vitro and in vivo evidence supporting efficacy and good blood capillary perfusion, while clinical safety and side effects require definition in trials.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

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Pages13

Reading Time33 min

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Review

Abstract

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1. Introduction

# Review Modifications of Nanobubble Therapy for Cancer Treatment Katarzyna M. Terlikowska 1, Bozena Dobrzycka 2and SlawomirJ. Terlikowski 3,* Citation: Terlikowska, K.M.; Dobrzycka, B.; Terlikowski, S.J.Modifications of Nanobubble Therapyfor Cancer Treatment. Int. J. Mol. Sci.2024, 25, 7292 . https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137292 Academic Editors: Mauro Colucciaand Anica Dricu Received: 23 April 2024 Revised: 17 June 2024 Accepted: 26 June 2024 Published: 2 July 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.This article is an open access articledistributed under the terms andconditions of the Creative CommonsAttribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/) . 1 Department of Food Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna 37 Street, 15-295 Bialystok, Poland; katarzyna.terlikowska@umb.edu.pl 2 Department of Gynaecology and Practical Obstetrics, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 24A Street, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland; bozena.dobrzycka@umb.edu.pl 3 Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Maternity Care, Medical University of Bialystok,Szpitalna 37 Street, 15-295 Bialystok, Poland * Correspondence: slawomir.terlikowski@umb.edu.pl; Tel.: +48-(85)-686-50-36; Fax: +48-(85)-686-50-37 Abstract: Cancer development is related to genetic mutations in primary cells, where 5–10% of allcancers are derived from acquired genetic defects, most of which are a consequence of the environmentand lifestyle. As it turns out, over half of cancer deaths are due to the generation of drug resistance.The local delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs may reduce their toxicity by increasing their therapeuticdose at targeted sites and by decreasing the plasma levels of circulating drugs. Nanobubbles haveattracted much attention as an effective drug distribution system due to their non-invasiveness andtargetability. This review aims to present the characteristics of nanobubble systems and their efficacywithin the biomedical field with special emphasis on cancer treatment. In vivo and in vitro studies oncancer confirm nanobubbles’ability and good blood capillary perfusion; however, there is a need todefine their safety and side effects in clinical trials. Keywords: nanobubbles; cancer; doxorubicin; paclitaxel; low-intensity ultrasound; hematoporphyrinmonomethyl ether; lonidamine; siRN; photodynamic therapy; sonodynamic therapy ## 1. Introduction The development of cancer is associated with genetic mutations in primary cells. Itisestimated that between 5% and 10% of all cancers are derived from acquired genetic defects,with the majority of these being a consequence of environmental and lifestyle factors [1] . In2023, the total number of cancer-related deaths in the five largest countries in Europe waspredicted tobe 1,261,990 (702,214 men and 559,776 women) . The corresponding age-specificrates (ASRs) are 123.8/100,000 for men and 79.3 for women, representing a decrease of−6.5% and −3.7%, respectively, compared to the rates observed in 2018 . The statisticalprojections indicate a favorable outlook for all cancer sites considered and both sexes, withthe exception of lung and pancreas among women. The ASRs for these two sites haveincreased compared to 2018, with the ASR for pancreas rising by 3.4% and the ASR forlung cancer by 1.2% [2] . Overall, the downward trend is consoling, but the cancer deathnumbers are still too high. In the 1950s, Dr. Otto Warburg was the first to report that cancer cells acquire metabolicalterations compared to normal cells [3] . In the tumor microenvironment, cancer cellsadopt their metabolism to unfavorable conditions, e.g., hypoxia and acidic pH causedby a lack of microcapillaries and the induction of glycolysis (Warburg effect) mediatedthrough hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF1α) . This process is accompanied by lactate andH+ extracellular efflux [4] . In addition to glycolysis, recent studies have also focused ont

FAQs

Why is drug resistance important in cancer mortality?

More than half of cancer deaths are attributed to the generation of drug resistance. Tumor drug resistance reduces drug efficacy and increases the difficulty of treatment through multiple mechanisms.

How are nanobubbles proposed to improve cancer drug delivery?

Nanobubbles are described as a non-invasive, targetable drug distribution system. Local delivery may reduce toxicity by increasing the therapeutic dose at targeted sites and decreasing plasma levels of circulating drugs.

What evidence supports nanobubbles in cancer treatment, and what remains to be established?

In vivo and in vitro cancer studies confirm nanobubbles’ ability and good blood capillary perfusion. Clinical trials are still needed to define their safety and side effects.

Sep 22, 2026

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