On the Destruction of Cancer Cells Using Laser-Induced Shock-Waves: A Review on Experiments and Multiscale Computer Simulations

Abstract

CitationSteinhauser MO. On the destruction of cancer cells using laser-induced shock waves: A review on experiments and multiscale computer simulations. Radiol Open J. 2016 ABSTRACTIn the clinical treatment of solid tumors, besides traditional surgery and chemotherapy, the use of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) has been established as a minimally non-invasive technique for tumor treatment, which is based on coagulative necrosis of cells, induced by conversion of mechanical energy into heat. Another, less developed technique for the destruction or damage of tumor cells, is based on the pure mechanical effects of strong shock waves on cells, which are generated by using laser ablation, thus avoiding the heat-related unwanted side-effect when using HIFU (cutaneous burns of healthy tissue). Despite the general therapeutic success of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in medicine, e.g. for disintegrating congrements, the mechanical effects of shock waves on the cytoskeleton of cells, on the transient permeability and rupture of cell membranes, or on tissue damage remain widely unknown. The mechanical behavior of bio-macromolecules however, is of particular importance on the cellular level as several basic and yet unanswered questions are raised: How are cell stresses and energy transmitted through cells and in what way are the forces and interactions that determine the stability of cell plasma membranes affected by a shock wave and give rise to cell deformation, structural damage or rupture of the membrane with subsequent apoptosis? Here, we intend to review research on the shock wave destruction of tumor cells and discuss the use of laserablation as a new potential technique for tumor treatment. We also discuss here recent progress in computational modeling strategies and techniques for understanding the basic physical mechanisms that occur in the interaction of shock waves with cellular structures and show how computer modeling and numerical simulation can contribute to a fundamental understanding in this emerging multidisciplinary field, where physics, chemistry, biology and medicine meet.

Red blood cell membrane damage by light‐induced thermal gradient under optical trap

“…Also the presence of shock waves consequent to the rupture of the trapped cell could be understood from the sudden motion of the surrounding cells in a radially outward direction from the trap point at the moments when the cell under trap gets completely damaged and ejected from the trap (see Video S2). Thermoelastic shockwaves are believed to have potential therapeutic applications by permeabilization of membrane and subsequently controlling transport across it [29,30]. Recently, similar membrane permeabilization phenomena under bipolar electric pulses by generating transient thermoelastic shocks have been experimentally reported [31][32][33] and also described through a full 3-dimensional model by Hu and Joshi [34] which has been found to be in good agreement with experimental observations.…”

“…We noted that the surrounding RBCs always experience damage on the side that is facing the trap. We believe such damages to surrounding cells may have resulted from the combined action of the heating of the surrounding medium by trap laser and the mechanical effects of shock wave subsequent to the rapid rupture of the trapped cell [29,30]. Also the presence of shock waves consequent to the rupture of the trapped cell could be understood from the sudden motion of the surrounding cells in a radially outward direction from the trap point at the moments when the cell under trap gets completely damaged and ejected from the trap (see Video S2).…”

Laser-Induced Shockwave (LIS) to Study Neuronal Ca2+ Responses

“…High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been one of the techniques utilized to induce shock waves often requiring more than one shock wave pulse to elicit quantifiable damage. Interestingly, studies using HIFU have reported similar peak pressures to those generated with lasers ( Steinhauser, 2016 ). However, uncontrolled cavitation by HIFU can lead to difficulty in controlling the amount of shear experienced by cells.…”

“…Several laboratories have investigated the effect of shockwaves on cancer cells to determine how it may be utilized for their destruction and sensitization to anti-tumor drugs ( Steinhauser, 2016 ). These studies can shed light on the molecular cascades which may be occurring during a blast-induced TBI.…”

Shock wave impact on the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells

“…The objective herein was to investigate the effect of different mechanical characteristics of shock waves on cell viability and identify the governing mechanical parameter or parameters, which is helpful in guiding the tuning of shock waves in medical applications, such as cancer treatment, kidney and gall stones treatments, enhanced drug delivery and diagnostic techniques [24,25]. Laser-induced shock waves were used to investigate the effect on cell viability by varying the shock wave pressure and impulse.…”