Summary of existing preclinical trials

ModelFrequency (mHz)Burst length (ms)Repetition frequency (Hz)Exposure length (s)Acoustic pressure (MPa)Estimated acoustic power (W)MB typeTherapeutic agentObservation
Mouse (Swiss Webster) [91]0.69101400.6–1.1-Optison™D4 receptor antibodyMinimal damage seen < 0.8 MPa. Damage observed > 0.8 MPa
Mouse (Swiss Webster) [84]0.69101400.6 and 0.8-Optison™HerceptinGreater delivery at 0.8 MPa compared to 0.6 MPa
Transgenic mice (B6C3-Tg and PDAPP) [92]0.6910140–450.67–0.80.28–0.4Optison™ or Definity®Anti-amyloid β antibodies3-fold increase in antibodies localized to plaques
TgCRND8 mice [93]0.5581011200.3-Definity®Amyloid-β antibodiesMice treated with MRgFUS had a 12% reduction in plaque sizes
non-Tg and TgCRND8 mice [94]0.51011200.3-Definity®Endogenous antibodiesReduced plaque sizes and activation of microglia
pR5 mice [95]1101060.7-In-house lipid-shelledRN2N antibodiesMice treated with MRgFUS had an 11-fold increase in RN2N delivery to CNS. Reduced anxiety and tau phosphorylation
nu/nu mice (intracranial U87mg cells) [81]0.4101600.4–0.84–18SonoVue®BevacizumabAnimals treated with MRgFUS had decreased tumor growth and vessel area as well as increased survival rates
nu/nu mice (intracranial U87mg cells) [83]0.5101600.3–0.72–5SonoVue®TMZMRgFUS caused TMZ accumulation in the brain to increase and have a slower degradation rate compared to controls. MRgFUS also slowed tumor progression
Male NOD-scid mice [88]1-160-2.86SonoVue®DoxorubicinMRgFUS increased oxorubicin concentrations in the brain by 2.35-fold compared with the control tumors
C57BL/6J mice [96]0.5581011200.53–0.6-Definity®Virus serotype 9A dose of 2.5 × 109 VG/g allowed expression of the transgene in neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in brain regions targeted with ultrasound. Nontargeted regions were minimally infected
Athymic nude-Foxn1nu mice [90]1.0523.811200.3-SonoVue®CarboplatinAnimals who received MRgFUS had a 4.2-fold increase in carboplatin concentration in the brain. MRgFUS also enhanced survival and delayed tumor growth
Nude rats (intracranial M.D. Anderson-metastatic breast (MDA-MB)-361 cells) [85]0.69101600.46–0.620.4–0.7Optison™Trastuzumab and pertuzumabAnimals treated with FUS had slower tumor growth rates and higher survival rates
Sprague-Dawley rats (intracranial C6 glioma) [5]0.51001900.36–0.75 or 20SonoVue®IL-12Animals treated with MRgFUS had a 3-fold increase in IL-12 in the CNS. They also had higher CD8+/T-reg ratio and slower tumor growth
Sprague-Dawley rats [97]0.55111200.24-Definity®GFP-tagged neural stem cellsMRgFUS allowed higher concentrations of neuronal stem cells in specifically targeted locations in the brain compared to controls
Male Sprague-Dawley rats [98]1.7101.760–1201.2-Optison™DoxorubicinMRgFUS increased the antineoplastic efficacy of liposomal doxorubicin in the brain. Animals treated with FUS had better survival rates compared to controls
Male Sprague-Dawley rats [80]0.551011200.128 and increased by a 0.008/s increment-Definity®GadovistMRgFUS induced a transient inflammatory response in microvessels
Male Sprague-Dawley rats [87]1.5 or 1.7101300.36–2.50.06–3.0 Optison™DoxorubicinDoxorubicin concentrations were significantly higher in areas targeted by MRgFUS than nontargeted areas of the brain
Athymic nude rat (intracranial MDA-MB-231 cells) [99]0.551011200.32–0.35-Definity®In HER2-specific NK-9210-fold increase in HER2-specific NK-92 cells regions targeted by MRgFUS
Athymic nude rat (intracranial MDA-MB-231 cells) [100]0.55102120--Definity®In HER2-specific NK-92Rats with MRgFUS had significantly reduced tumor growth and higher survival rates compared to controls
Male Fischer rats [82]0.5101600.63SonoVue®TMZMRgFUS increased the TMZ CSF/plasma ratio from 22.7% to 38.6%, reduced tumor progression, and increased survival rates
Male Sprague-Dawley rats [62]0.69101600.55-Definity®DoxorubicinThe concentration of doxorubicin decreased by 32% when injected 10 min after MRgFUS compared to when doxorubicin is injected before sonification
Female Sprague-Dawley rats [79]0.5891011200.3-Optison™-MRgFUS increased levels of proinflammatory, anti-inflammatory, trophic, neurotrophic and neurogenesis factors
Rabbit (New Zealand white) [55]1.63 and 1.5100120-0.55 or 3 Optison™-Sonication as 0.55 W increased the number of endothelial vesicles and fenestrations on the luminal surface of endothelial cells. Damage occurred at 3 W
Rabbit (New Zealand white) [89]1.1--10-6SonoVue®MethotrexateMRgFUS significantly increased methotrexate concentrations in the brain compared to controls

GFP: green fluorescent protein; HER2: human epithelial growth factor receptor 2; NK: natural killer; NOD: non-obese diabetic; -: none