BUBBL: Non-Invasive Therapy & Drug Delivery

Externally applied energy forms such as ultrasound, shock-waves, magnetic or radiation fields can be deployed under real-time image guidance for non-invasive surgery or to achieve targeted release and enhanced delivery of therapeutic agents from stimulus-responsive drug carriers.

A key focus of the research in the biomedical ultrasonics, biotherapy and biopharmaceuticals laboratory (BUBBL) is the identification, optimization and modeling of key mechanisms that can simultaneously enhance non-invasive therapy and enable real-time monitoring and control of the therapeutic process deep within the body.

The BUBBL research facility is unique by virtue of its capability to manufacture a wide array of stimulus-responsive micro- and nano-carriers, ranging from liposomes to multi-layered vesicles for multi-modality and theranostic use, as well as having the capacity to design, build and test the customized therapeutic devices, which provide the stimuli to impact upon these carriers.

Key application areas include the treatment of cancer and solid tumours, delivery through the blood-brain barrier and stroke therapy, and spinal therapies, whilst therapeutic agents being delivered range from conventional chemotherapeutics to siRNA and oncolytic viruses.