Ultrasound combined with nanomaterials for cancer therapy

Ultrasound (US) is considered as a secure external stimulation for different biomedical applications because it is non-invasive, non-toxic and it brings no radiation pollution. Compared with traditional ultrasonography application, US has now attracted more and more attention for cancer therapy. It treats cancer in deeper tissues because it penetrates far than light does. New types of nanomaterials have been developed for US triggered cancer therapy. The study on emerging cancer therapeutic modality triggered by US is also increasing, e.g., high intensity-focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, sonodynamic therapy (SDT), and US-mediated drug delivery. The research on current advances in nanomaterials-based and US-triggered cancer treatments have been discussed in detail in this review, especially the underlying mechanisms for better therapeutic effectiveness. Furthermore, challenges and prospective in the evolution of nanomaterials for the US-based cancer therapy fields were also explained. It is anticipated that our manifestation in this expanding discipline will aid in the advancement of US-based basic research and therapeutic applications.