Low-intensity focused-ultrasound--based therapeutic technologies for neurodegenerative and neuro-oncological diseases.

Low-intensity focused ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging non-invasive technology with the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases as well as a broad range of other brain disorders. Its therapeutic applications range from deep brain neuromodulation to reversible blood-brain barrier permeabilization for locally enhancing the uptake of therapeutic agents. We will describe FUS-based brain therapies with a particular focus on neuro-oncology. In particular, we will show the potential of FUS technology for boosting both chemotherapy and radiotherapy of glioblastoma (GBM) tumors. We will also introduce the use of FUS-enhanced radiosensitive nanoparticles (RNPs) uptake as a novel treatment for GBMs. By delivering a new class of RNPs through FUS in rat models of GBM we demonstrate the ability of increasing therapeutic efficacy by $170%$ (in comparison to RNPs+RT alone) and of reducing tumoral growth down to $27%$ of the growth observed in control lesions. We will also demonstrate how simulation studies can efficiently support FUS application for future drugs delivery and neurostimulation applications.