Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates the impact of low-intensity continuous ultrasound (LICU) on pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PANC-1) spheroids, emphasizing morphological and volumetric transformations. PANC-1 spheroids were cultured and treated with LICU across frequencies from 1 to 5 MHz. Cell viability and mortality were analyzed through Calcein AM/PI staining, while volumetric and morphological changes were quantified across frequencies from 2 to 4 MHz using advanced imaging techniques and computational tools, including a custom Python OpenCv Library, AnaSP 3.0, a MATLAB based open source tool. Notably, a frequency of 3.5 MHz yielded optimal outcomes, also achieving a reduction in spheroid volume and mortality while minimizing disgregation, a factor linked to metastasis risk. These findings underscore LICU’s potential as an effective therapeutic strategy, balancing tumor reduction with the preservation of structural cohesion. The study establishes a methodological framework for optimizing LICU parameters, presenting a less invasive avenue for improving therapeutic outcomes in pancreatic cancer treatment.
Source: Applied Sciences
DOI: 10.3390/app15041707
Authors: Martina Ricci, Mattia Dimitri, Martina Serio, Andrea Corvi
Institution: University of Florence
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W4407294575