Targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to the mouse brain using a stereotactic-guided focused ultrasound device

STAR Protoc. 2023 Mar 17;4(1):102132. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102132. Epub 2023 Feb 24.

Abstract

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).1.

Keywords: Biotechnology and bioengineering; Cancer; Health Sciences; Neuroscience; Physics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Blood-Brain Barrier*
  • Brain* / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain* / surgery
  • Mice
  • Microbubbles
  • Ultrasonography / methods