Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine devised a novel non-invasive method to deliver drugs within a few millimetres of a desired point in the brain. The method was tested in rats. The drug molecules embedded in a nanoparticle lattice were first injected in the bloodstream. Then using targeted ultrasound beam, the drug molecules were released from the mesh into a small area of brain. The action of the drug started immediately, but only when the ultrasound was active at a certain intensity. Thus, by altering the strength and duration of the beam, researchers could fine-tune the drug action.
Source: Wang JB, Aryal M, Zhong Q, Vyas DB, Airan RD. Noninvasive Ultrasonic Drug Uncaging Maps Whole-Brain Functional Networks. Neuron. 2018 Nov 7;100(3):728-738.e7.
