Real-Time Assessment of Ultrasound-Mediated Drug Delivery Using Fibered Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

Transport across the plasma membrane is a critical step of drug delivery for weakly permeable compounds with intracellular mode of action. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate real-time monitoring of ultrasound (US)-mediated cell-impermeable model drug uptake with fibered confocal fluorescence microscopy (FCFM). An in vitro setup was designed to combine a mono-element US transducer, a cell chamber with a monolayer of tumor cells together with SonoVue microbubbles, and a FCFM system. The cell-impermeable intercalating dye, SYTOX Green, was used to monitor US-mediated uptake. The majority of the cell population showed fluorescence signal enhancement 10 s after US onset. The mean rate constant k of signal enhancement was calculated to be 0.23 +/- 0.04 min(-1). Feasibility of real-time monitoring of US-mediated intracellular delivery by FCFM has been demonstrated. The method allowed quantitative assessment of model drug uptake, holding great promise for further local drug delivery studies.