Subcellular Cavitation Bubbles Induce Cellular Mechanolysis and Collective Wound Healing in Ultrasound‐Inflicted Cell Ablation

Abstract Focused ultrasound (FUS) has been widely adopted in medical and life science researches. Although various physical and biological effects of FUS have been well‐documented, there is still a lack of understanding and direct evidence on the biological mechanism of therapeutic cell ablation cau...

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Main Authors: Ziyue Bai, Zaimeng Li, Yue Shao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Advanced Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410760
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author Ziyue Bai
Zaimeng Li
Yue Shao
author_facet Ziyue Bai
Zaimeng Li
Yue Shao
author_sort Ziyue Bai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Focused ultrasound (FUS) has been widely adopted in medical and life science researches. Although various physical and biological effects of FUS have been well‐documented, there is still a lack of understanding and direct evidence on the biological mechanism of therapeutic cell ablation caused by high‐intensity ultrasound (HIFU) and the subsequent wound healing responses. This study develops an enclosed cell culture device that synergistically combines non‐invasive FUS stimulation and real‐time, on‐the‐fly live‐cell imaging, providing an in vitro platform to explore short and long‐term biological effects of ultrasound. The process, mechanism, and wound healing response of cell ablation induced by HIFU are elucidated, revealing a unique mechanism, termed ultrasound‐inflicted cellular mechanolysis, that is mediated by growing subcellular cavitation air bubbles under confined contact with cells. This provides a previously unappreciated mechanism for understanding the biomechanical principles of ultrasound‐based ablative therapy. A post‐ablation phantom layer is also revealed that serves as a guiding cue for collective cell migration during wound healing, thereby providing a biomimetic model for studying wound healing after HIFU‐inflicted damage. Together, this study provides theoretical and technological basis for advancing the understanding of the biological effects of ultrasound‐based ablative therapy and inspiring clinically relevant applications in the future.
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spelling doaj-art-d297bf6897544f798f3c8a3c1f20505a2025-08-20T02:18:36ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-03-011211n/an/a10.1002/advs.202410760Subcellular Cavitation Bubbles Induce Cellular Mechanolysis and Collective Wound Healing in Ultrasound‐Inflicted Cell AblationZiyue Bai0Zaimeng Li1Yue Shao2Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering Applied Mechanics Laboratory Department of Engineering Mechanics School of Aerospace Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 ChinaInstitute of Fluid Mechanics Department of Engineering Mechanics School of Aerospace Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 ChinaInstitute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering Applied Mechanics Laboratory Department of Engineering Mechanics School of Aerospace Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 ChinaAbstract Focused ultrasound (FUS) has been widely adopted in medical and life science researches. Although various physical and biological effects of FUS have been well‐documented, there is still a lack of understanding and direct evidence on the biological mechanism of therapeutic cell ablation caused by high‐intensity ultrasound (HIFU) and the subsequent wound healing responses. This study develops an enclosed cell culture device that synergistically combines non‐invasive FUS stimulation and real‐time, on‐the‐fly live‐cell imaging, providing an in vitro platform to explore short and long‐term biological effects of ultrasound. The process, mechanism, and wound healing response of cell ablation induced by HIFU are elucidated, revealing a unique mechanism, termed ultrasound‐inflicted cellular mechanolysis, that is mediated by growing subcellular cavitation air bubbles under confined contact with cells. This provides a previously unappreciated mechanism for understanding the biomechanical principles of ultrasound‐based ablative therapy. A post‐ablation phantom layer is also revealed that serves as a guiding cue for collective cell migration during wound healing, thereby providing a biomimetic model for studying wound healing after HIFU‐inflicted damage. Together, this study provides theoretical and technological basis for advancing the understanding of the biological effects of ultrasound‐based ablative therapy and inspiring clinically relevant applications in the future.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410760cavitation bubblescell ablationcollective cell migrationfocused ultrasound
spellingShingle Ziyue Bai
Zaimeng Li
Yue Shao
Subcellular Cavitation Bubbles Induce Cellular Mechanolysis and Collective Wound Healing in Ultrasound‐Inflicted Cell Ablation
Advanced Science
cavitation bubbles
cell ablation
collective cell migration
focused ultrasound
title Subcellular Cavitation Bubbles Induce Cellular Mechanolysis and Collective Wound Healing in Ultrasound‐Inflicted Cell Ablation
title_full Subcellular Cavitation Bubbles Induce Cellular Mechanolysis and Collective Wound Healing in Ultrasound‐Inflicted Cell Ablation
title_fullStr Subcellular Cavitation Bubbles Induce Cellular Mechanolysis and Collective Wound Healing in Ultrasound‐Inflicted Cell Ablation
title_full_unstemmed Subcellular Cavitation Bubbles Induce Cellular Mechanolysis and Collective Wound Healing in Ultrasound‐Inflicted Cell Ablation
title_short Subcellular Cavitation Bubbles Induce Cellular Mechanolysis and Collective Wound Healing in Ultrasound‐Inflicted Cell Ablation
title_sort subcellular cavitation bubbles induce cellular mechanolysis and collective wound healing in ultrasound inflicted cell ablation
topic cavitation bubbles
cell ablation
collective cell migration
focused ultrasound
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410760
work_keys_str_mv AT ziyuebai subcellularcavitationbubblesinducecellularmechanolysisandcollectivewoundhealinginultrasoundinflictedcellablation
AT zaimengli subcellularcavitationbubblesinducecellularmechanolysisandcollectivewoundhealinginultrasoundinflictedcellablation
AT yueshao subcellularcavitationbubblesinducecellularmechanolysisandcollectivewoundhealinginultrasoundinflictedcellablation