Ultrasound, cavitation bubbles and their interaction with cells

This article reviews the basic physics of ultrasound generation, acoustic field, and both inertial and non-inertial acoustic cavitation in the context of localized gene and drug delivery as well as non-linear oscillation of an encapsulated microbubble and its associated microstreaming and radiation force generated by ultrasound. The ultrasound thermal and mechanical bioeffects and relevant safety issues for in vivo applications are also discussed.