Evaluation of Liposome-Loaded Microbubbles as a Theranostic Tool in a Murine Collagen-Induced Arthritis Model

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by severe inflammation of the synovial tissue. Here, we assess feasibility liposome-loaded microbubbles as theranostic agents in a murine model. First, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was used to quantify neovascularization this model since CEUS well-established for RA diagnosis humans. Next, potential and (US) selectively enhance liposome delivery synovium evaluated with vivo fluorescence imaging. This procedure made very challenging presence hard joints limited lifetime microbubbles. The inflamed knee were exposed therapeutic US after intravenous injection Loaded found be quickly captured liver. resulted fast clearance attached liposomes while free long-circulating able accumulate over time joints. Our observations show that models are not well-suited evaluating microbubble-mediated drug given: (i) restricted microbubble passage vasculature (ii) control exact conditions situ given much shorter length scale compared wavelength.