In vivo ultrasound-activated delivery of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator from the cavity of sub-micrometric capsules

External stimuli such as light, magnetic fields or ultrasounds allow for controlled drug release from nanocarriers with spatiotemporal resolution. Such tetherless approaches may become a straightforward solution to overcome the specificity problems typically associated with nanomedicines. Most of current nanomedicines suffer of very low specificity in vivo, thus rendering efficient targeted delivery among the most wanted breakthroughs in the fields of nanotechnology and medicine. Here we present a sonosensitive, sub-micrometric layer-by-layer capsule system for ultrasound-controlled delivery of macromolecules in vivo. As a proof of concept, the serine protease recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), a thrombolytic drug widely employed for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke and other thromboembolic pathologies, is used as encapsulated active compound. The activity of encapsulated rtPA and its ultrasound-induced delivery from the cavity of the capsules are demonstrated. We show, first, that rtPA encapsulation prevents its endogenous biological inactivation and do not interfere with the thrombolytic activity of the drug. Second, upon ultrasound application, delivery of rtPA promotes breakdown of blood clots in vitro. Finally, the ultrasound-triggered in vivo delivery of rtPA from capsules intravenously administrated in mice is demonstrated.