Classification and Application of Ultrasound-Responsive Nanomaterials in Anti-Inflammatory Therapy

Ultrasound, a high-frequency mechanical wave with excellent tissue penetration, has been widely applied in medical diagnostic imaging. Furthermore, it has been reported that ultrasound has broad prospects for extensive applications in the field of disease treatment in recent years due to its non-invasiveness and high efficiency. Ultrasound-responsive nanomaterials have the unique advantages of a small size and a high reactivity. Such materials have the capability for precision control of drug release under ultrasound stimulation, which provides a new approach to enhancing the efficiency of drug therapy. Therefore, these materials have attracted the attention of a wide range of scholars. Inflammation is a defensive response produced by organisms to deal with injuries. However, excessive inflammatory response may lead to various tissue damages in organisms and even endanger patients’ lives. Many studies have demonstrated that limiting the inflammatory response using ultrasound-responsive nanomaterials is a viable way of treating diseases. Currently, there are still challenges in the application of ultrasound-responsive nanomaterials in anti-inflammatory therapy. The design and synthesis process of nanomaterials is complicated, and further verification of the biocompatibility and safety of these materials is needed. Therefore, in this review, we summarized and classified common ultrasound-responsive nanomaterials in the field of anti-inflammation and systematically introduced the properties of different nanomaterials. In addition, the anti-inflammatory applications of ultrasound-responsive nanomaterials in various diseases, such as bone diseases, skin and muscle diseases, autoimmune diseases, and respiratory diseases, are also described in detail. It is expected that this review will provide insights for further research and clinical applications in the realms of precision treatment, targeted drug delivery, and clinical trial validation of ultrasound-responsive nanomaterials used in anti-inflammatory therapies.