A team of researchers, led by Elisa Konofagou, associate professor of biomedical engineering and radiology, has developed a new technique to reach neurons through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and deliver drugs safely and noninvasively. Up until now, scientists have thought that long ultrasound pulses, which can inflict collateral damage, were required. But in this new study, the Columbia Engineering team show that extremely short pulses of ultrasound waves can open the blood-brain barrier—with the added advantages of safety and uniform molecular delivery— and that the molecule injected systemically could reach and highlight the targeted neurons noninvasively. 

The study will be published in the online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of September 19, 2011.
 
“This is a great step forward,” says Konofagou. “Devastating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s that affect millions of people are currently severely undertreated. We hope our new research will open new avenues in helping eradicate them.”