Investigation of Advanced Cavitation Agents for Nanoparticle-Mediated Histotripsy (NMH) Applications

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dc.contributor.authorHall, Sarah Louellaen
dc.contributor.committeechairVlaisavljevich, Elien
dc.contributor.committeememberAllen, Irving Coyen
dc.contributor.committeememberSheybani, Natashaen
dc.contributor.committeememberDurmaz, Yaseminen
dc.contributor.committeememberMunson, Jennifer Meganen
dc.contributor.departmentDepartment of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanicsen
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-30T08:05:33Zen
dc.date.available2025-05-30T08:05:33Zen
dc.date.issued2025-05-29en
dc.description.abstractgeneralNanoparticle-mediated histotripsy (NMH) is an emergent non-invasive therapy that uses nanoparticles in combination with focused ultrasound with engineered nanoparticles to mechanically ablate targeted tissue with cavitation. Unlike conventional histotripsy, which requires high negative pressures (>25 MPa) for treatment, NMH utilizes nanoparticles, which enable cavitation at significantly lower pressures (<15 MPa), and, thus, improves the safety and precision of the therapy. Due to the increased safety profile of NMH, potential applications across a broader range of tissue types and anatomical sites are possible. As a versatile and tunable platform, NMH offers the ability to integrate dual-function nanoparticles that enable mechanical ablation with localized drug delivery, all within a single treatment modality. To date, NMH has demonstrated proof-of-concept success in applications such as prostate cancer ablation and catheter-based biofilm removal. However, its full potential as a multifunctional therapeutic platform for more complex disease environments remains underexplored. In this dissertation, I investigate the feasibility and optimization of NMH for two clinically relevant and challenging scenarios: the treatment of breast cancer and the eradication of biomaterial-associated infections. Specifically, this work focuses on: (1) the characterization of NMH cavitation agents with clinically relevant pulsing parameters, (2) the feasibility of NMH as a breast cancer treatment, and (3) the characterization and feasibility of dual-function NMH cavitation agents for the treatment of breast cancer and biomaterial-associated infections. Through this research, I demonstrate how NMH can be strategically tuned to meet the demands of different clinical presentations by strategically using nanoparticles. This work will establish NMH as a flexible, precise, and multi-functional treatment platform. Ultimately, this dissertation contributes to the development of a next-generation therapeutic approach that bridges the gap between mechanical ablation and drug delivery, all enabled through nanoparticle-mediated cavitation.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophyen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:43562en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10919/134310en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectnanoparticleen
dc.subjectfocused ultrasounden
dc.subjecthistotripsyen
dc.subjectbreast canceren
dc.subjectbiofilmsen
dc.titleInvestigation of Advanced Cavitation Agents for Nanoparticle-Mediated Histotripsy (NMH) Applicationsen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineBiomedical Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen

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