Engineering Ultrasound Contrast Agents for Targeted Therapeutics: A Theranostic Approach to Drug Delivery, Gene Therapy, and Immunomodulation

Ultrasound Contrast Agents The cover illustration depicts an engineered nanobubble ultrasound contrast agent designed for theranostic applications in drug delivery, gene therapy, and immunomodulation. The nanobubble features a multifunctional hybrid shell integrating lipid layers (yellow), polymeric coatings (green), and nanoparticle-based components (red), representing versatile structural architectures that enhance stability, responsiveness, and targeting capabilities. Inside the nanobubble core, various therapeutic cargos (including drugs, genes, and immune agents) are depicted, symbolizing the broad use of microbubbles and nanobubbles that can be encapsulated for controlled, ultrasound-triggered release. Overall, the image visually summarizes the central theme of the review: how rationally engineered ultrasound contrast agents can serve as theranostic platforms uniting imaging and targeted therapy across drug delivery, gene therapy, and immunomodulation. More details can be found in the Research Article by Sara Minaeian and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202500176).