While ultrasound is most widely known for its use in diagnostic imaging, the energy carried by ultrasound waves can be utilized to influence cell function and
drug delivery. Consequently, our ability to use ultrasound energy at a given intensity unlocks the opportunity to use the ultrasound for therapeutic applications. Indeed, in the last decade ultrasound-based
therapies have emerged with promising treatment modalities for several medical conditions. More recently, ultrasound in combination with nanomedicines, i.e., nanoparticles, has been shown to have substantial potential to enhance the efficacy of many treatments including
cancer,
Alzheimer disease or
osteoarthritis. The concept of ultrasound combined with
drug delivery is still in its infancy and more research is needed to unfold the mechanisms and interactions of ultrasound with different nanoparticles types and with various cell types. Here we present the state-of-art in ultrasound and ultrasound-assisted
drug delivery with a particular focus on
cancer treatments. Notably, this review discusses the application of high intensity focus ultrasound for non-invasive
tumor ablation and immunomodulatory effects of ultrasound, as well as the efficacy of nanoparticle-enhanced
ultrasound therapies for different medical conditions. Furthermore, this review presents safety considerations related to ultrasound technology and gives recommendations in the context of system design and operation.