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

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).

Automated summary

This study developed a low-cost, easy-to-use, and precise focused ultrasound (FUS) device for preclinical research in small animal models. The detailed protocol includes building the FUS transducer, attaching it to a stereotactic frame for precise brain targeting, applying the integrated FUS device for blood-brain barrier opening (BBBO) in mice, and evaluating the outcome of FUS-BBBO.