We report a study on two methods that enable spatial control and induced cavitation on targeted microbubbles (MBs). Cavitation is known to be present in many situations throughout nature. This phenomena has been proven to have the energy to erode alloys, like steel, in propellers and turbines. It is recently theorized that cavitation occurs inside the skull during a traumatic-brain injury (TBI) situation. Controlled cavitation methods could help better understand TBIs and explain how neurons respond at moments of trauma. Both of our approaches involve an ultrasonic transducer and bio-compatible Polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibers. These methods are reproducible as well as affordable, providing more control and efficiency compared to previous techniques found in literature. We specifically model three-dimensional spatial control of individual MBs using a 1.6 MHz transducer. Using a 100 kHz transducer, we also illustrate induced cavitation on an individual MB that is adhered to the surface of a PCL microfiber. The goal of future studies will involve characterization of neuronal response to cavitation and seek to unmask its linkage with TBIs.

我们报告了对两种方法的研究，这两种方法可以对目标微泡（MBs）进行空间控制和诱导空化。众所周知，在整个自然界的许多情况下都存在气蚀现象。事实证明，这种现象具有侵蚀螺旋桨和涡轮机中的合金（如钢）的能量。最近有理论认为，在颅脑外伤（TBI）的情况下，在颅骨内部会发生空化现象。受控的空化方法可以帮助更好地了解TBI，并解释神经元在创伤时刻的反应。我们的两种方法都涉及超声换能器和生物相容的聚己内酯（PCL）超细纤维。这些方法具有可重现性和可负担性，与文献中的现有技术相比，可提供更多的控制和效率。我们专门使用1.6 MHz换能器对单个MB的三维空间控制建模。使用100 kHz换能器，我们还说明了粘附在PCL超细纤维表面上的单个MB上的气蚀现象。未来研究的目标将涉及表征神经元对空化的反应，并试图揭示其与TBI的联系。