Synergy between HIFU and PPAA in the Disruption of Cell Membranes
Microbubble cavitation has been shown to produce shear stresses on blood cells in vitro. There has been some evidence that cells destroyed by these forces have undergone apoptosis, which is superior physiologically to necrosis in that apoptotic cells do not precipitate primary inflammation. To determine if tumor cells could be induced to undergo apoptosis in vitro, as a preliminary analysis to similar tests in vivo, samples of cancerous rat glial cells will be subjected to cavitation induced by high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) by a variety of application methods and then analyzed with a number of apoptosis detection methods including nick-end labeling, gel electrophoresis, and fluorescence labeling. Multiple tests will be used to differentiate between healthy, apoptotic and necrotic cells.
