ABSTRACT
Resumen: En los últimos años la ecografía a la cabecera del paciente ha crecido exponencialmente. Su aplicación es observada en el quirófano, en las unidades de cuidados intensivos, en urgencias, en la atención de primer nivel e incluso en el trabajo de campo. Es tan versátil que facilita el diagnóstico, mejora la monitorización de los pacientes y apoya en los procedimientos invasivos, todo esto de forma segura y eficaz. En el área de la educación médica ha permeado hasta el pregrado, donde ya se le propone como una herramienta didáctica que permite la vinculación entre el conocimiento de las ciencias básicas y la aplicación clínica. La ecografía corresponde a uno de los instrumentos más versátiles en la medicina contemporánea, por lo que se hace obligada y prioritaria una mayor capacitación e investigación en el tema.
Abstract: In recent years, ultrasound at the patient's bedside has exponentially grown. Its application has been observed in the operating room, intensive care units, emergency rooms, first-level care and even in field work. It is so versatile that it facilitates diagnosis, improves patient monitoring and supports invasive procedures, all in a safe and effective manner. It has been used as a didactic tool in medical education that helps create a link between basic sciences and clinical application. Ultrasound is one of the most versatile instruments in contemporary medicine, hence, more training and research in the subject is a must and a priority.
ABSTRACT
Aims: A novel nanocarrier was formulated by remote loading of doxorubicin (Dox) into a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposome that also contains various perfluorocarbon (PFC) droplets within its aqueous interior. It was shown that Dox can be loaded to a level of up to 67% into these large unilamellar vesicles composed of DPPC and cholesterol by employing a transmembrane pH gradient technique. Methods: The different encapsulation efficiencies for these eLipoDox constructs of differing PFC composition are 45.5% (PFC5), 31.5% (PFC6) and 66.7% (PFC5/PFC6 mixture, PFCm). At 30 seconds of insonation, the eLipoDox formulation with PFCm droplets appeared to release more Dox than did eLipoDox with pure PFC5 or PFC6 droplets. The thermal stability of these eLipoDox formulations were examined at 37°C at different times; then controlled delivery was demonstrated by applying low-frequency ultrasound (US) at 1 W/cm2. Results: The eLipoDox with PFC6 or PFCm showed the best combination of thermal stability and drug release. An immunoblotting analysis indicates that ultrasound-triggered Dox release from eLipoDox could provide a higher quantity of nanodrug into tumor cells and thus may have cytostatic effects in cancer cells. Conclusion: These eLipoDox constructs with low boiling point PFCs have the potential to provide more effective ultrasonically activated drug therapy to a desired location.