Neural immune modulation and immunotherapy assisted by focused ultrasound induced blood-brain barrier opening

The central nervous system (CNS) has long been regarded as an immune-privileged site, with the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limiting the entering of systemic immune cells and components. Exposure of low-energy focused ultrasound (FUS) with the presence of microbubbles has been found to provide a temporary and targeted opening of the BBB without inflicting brain damage or inflammation, and is thus an attractive means of delivering CNS therapeutic agents and raising the potential for targeted CNS immunotherapy. Based on our recent studies on enhancing brain-tumor immune-related therapy via this mechanism,(1) we summarize current approaches using FUS-induced BBB opening to promote immune regulation and project potential directions for FUS-induced CNS immunotherapy.