Nanobubbles for therapeutic delivery: production, stability and current prospects

Abstract Nanobubbles (NBs) have recently garnered widespread attention for the potential use as dual diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Similar to their micron-sized relatives (microbubbles), NBs are shell-stabilized, gas-cored bubbles that in conjunction with ultrasound (US) can be used to increase imaging contrast, as well as provide a mechanism for trigger drug release and increased therapeutic delivery. In this review, we specifically focus on their development as agents to enhance drug delivery, discussing theory, characterization techniques, key formulations and prospects for translation into clinical use.