Targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to the mouse brain using a stereotactic-guided focused ultrasound device.
Authors: Hu Z, Yang Y, Ye D, Chen S, Gong Y, Chukwu C, Chen H
Existing protocols of focused ultrasound (FUS) combined with microbubble-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening (FUS-BBBO) in preclinical research require expensive ultrasound equipment and complex operating procedures. We developed a low-cost, easy-to-use, and precise FUS device for small animal models in preclinical research. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for building the FUS transducer, attaching the transducer to a stereotactic frame for precise brain targeting, applying the integrated FUS device to perform FUS-BBBO in mice, and evaluating the FUS-BBBO outcome. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Hu et al. (2022).<sup>1</sup>.
Introduction
Purpose
Drug delivery with BBB opening
Study Objective
To develop and provide a detailed protocol for a low-cost, easy-to-use, and precise focused ultrasound device for microbubble-mediated blood–brain barrier opening in mice.
Animal model / Human subject
Mouse (Mus musculus); strain: None; age: None; sex: None
Disease model
Blood-brain barrier opening (FUS-BBBO) in mice for brain drug delivery (preclinical model)
MRI or image guidance method
Stereotactic frame guidance (transducer attached to a stereotactic frame for precise brain targeting)
Cargo name and characteristics
Focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer device — a low-cost, easy-to-use, small-animal focused ultrasound transducer built for mice, mounted on a stereotactic frame for highly precise brain targeting and used to perform focused ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier opening (FUS-BBBO).
Route of administration
Intravenous
Outcomes and Safety
Summary of Outcomes
A low-cost, easy-to-use focused ultrasound device enables highly precise stereotactic targeting to open the blood–brain barrier and facilitate brain drug delivery in mice.
Safety-related matter
The paper states that undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.
Brain Region
Ultrasound Parameters
Ultrasound instrument
None.
FUS Mode
pulsed
Duration of a single FUS session
None.
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