Potential applications of focused ultrasound for spinal cord diseases: a narrative review of preclinical studies
Focused ultrasound (FUS) technology provides unique advantages as a therapy targeting the central nervous system (CNS). We aimed to investigate and summarize the potential applications of FUS in the context of spinal cord diseases. Search strategies were created using a combination of keywords and s...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Brain and Spine |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772529425001171 |
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| author | Ryan Nguyen Victor Gabriel El-Hajj Umberto Battistin Karl J. Habashy Victor E. Staartjes Adrian Elmi-Terander Jingke Zhang Abdul Karim Ghaith |
| author_facet | Ryan Nguyen Victor Gabriel El-Hajj Umberto Battistin Karl J. Habashy Victor E. Staartjes Adrian Elmi-Terander Jingke Zhang Abdul Karim Ghaith |
| author_sort | Ryan Nguyen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Focused ultrasound (FUS) technology provides unique advantages as a therapy targeting the central nervous system (CNS). We aimed to investigate and summarize the potential applications of FUS in the context of spinal cord diseases. Search strategies were created using a combination of keywords and standardized index terms. Searches were run in April 2025 in the Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBSCO MegaFILE, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, Ovid PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection to retrieve all relevant studies from inception until 2024. A narrative and comprehensive summary of the current body of evidence was performed. Current preclinical studies indicate the potential use of spinal cord FUS in blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) disruption, neuromodulation, and inflammatory regulation following spinal cord injury. Targeted CNS drug delivery with BSCB disruption using FUS has proven promising in the context of neuro-oncology and neurotrauma. Additionally, FUS has been explored for neuromodulation in managing neuropathic pain and spasticity. FUS to the spinal cord may also provide anti-inflammatory effects and alter the local cellular response to injury. While therapeutic FUS ablation of brain structures has been extensively studied, research on similar applications within the spinal cord was less prevalent and faces multiple challenges. FUS is a highly promising technique with multiple advantages and potential applications in the treatment of spinal cord diseases. Current research efforts have shifted focus towards translational studies, while human trials are currently limited. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-78f5114230c44113b392942dfd44f4ff |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2772-5294 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain and Spine |
| spelling | doaj-art-78f5114230c44113b392942dfd44f4ff2025-08-20T03:22:59ZengElsevierBrain and Spine2772-52942025-01-01510429810.1016/j.bas.2025.104298Potential applications of focused ultrasound for spinal cord diseases: a narrative review of preclinical studiesRyan Nguyen0Victor Gabriel El-Hajj1Umberto Battistin2Karl J. Habashy3Victor E. Staartjes4Adrian Elmi-Terander5Jingke Zhang6Abdul Karim Ghaith7Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USADepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USADepartment of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USAMachine Intelligence in Clinical Neuroscience & Microsurgical Neuroanatomy (MICN) Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Corresponding author. Capio Spine Center Stockholm, Löwenströmska Hospital, (Box 2074), 194 02 Upplands-Väsby, Sweden.Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USADepartment of Neurological Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USAFocused ultrasound (FUS) technology provides unique advantages as a therapy targeting the central nervous system (CNS). We aimed to investigate and summarize the potential applications of FUS in the context of spinal cord diseases. Search strategies were created using a combination of keywords and standardized index terms. Searches were run in April 2025 in the Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBSCO MegaFILE, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, Ovid PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection to retrieve all relevant studies from inception until 2024. A narrative and comprehensive summary of the current body of evidence was performed. Current preclinical studies indicate the potential use of spinal cord FUS in blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) disruption, neuromodulation, and inflammatory regulation following spinal cord injury. Targeted CNS drug delivery with BSCB disruption using FUS has proven promising in the context of neuro-oncology and neurotrauma. Additionally, FUS has been explored for neuromodulation in managing neuropathic pain and spasticity. FUS to the spinal cord may also provide anti-inflammatory effects and alter the local cellular response to injury. While therapeutic FUS ablation of brain structures has been extensively studied, research on similar applications within the spinal cord was less prevalent and faces multiple challenges. FUS is a highly promising technique with multiple advantages and potential applications in the treatment of spinal cord diseases. Current research efforts have shifted focus towards translational studies, while human trials are currently limited.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772529425001171Focused ultrasoundBlood-spinal cord barrierBlood-brain barrierLow-intensity focused ultrasoundHigh-intensity focused ultrasound |
| spellingShingle | Ryan Nguyen Victor Gabriel El-Hajj Umberto Battistin Karl J. Habashy Victor E. Staartjes Adrian Elmi-Terander Jingke Zhang Abdul Karim Ghaith Potential applications of focused ultrasound for spinal cord diseases: a narrative review of preclinical studies Brain and Spine Focused ultrasound Blood-spinal cord barrier Blood-brain barrier Low-intensity focused ultrasound High-intensity focused ultrasound |
| title | Potential applications of focused ultrasound for spinal cord diseases: a narrative review of preclinical studies |
| title_full | Potential applications of focused ultrasound for spinal cord diseases: a narrative review of preclinical studies |
| title_fullStr | Potential applications of focused ultrasound for spinal cord diseases: a narrative review of preclinical studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential applications of focused ultrasound for spinal cord diseases: a narrative review of preclinical studies |
| title_short | Potential applications of focused ultrasound for spinal cord diseases: a narrative review of preclinical studies |
| title_sort | potential applications of focused ultrasound for spinal cord diseases a narrative review of preclinical studies |
| topic | Focused ultrasound Blood-spinal cord barrier Blood-brain barrier Low-intensity focused ultrasound High-intensity focused ultrasound |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772529425001171 |
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