ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the state of the art of nanobubbles as delivery systems, with a specific focus on design parameters, fabrication methods, and recent therapeutic applications. The healthcare field has been revolutionized over recent decades by the design of innovative nanotechnology-based strategies for the improvement of a wide range of therapeutic treatments. Nanobubbles are an innovative nanoplatform upon which to develop multifunctional nanocarriers for targeted imaging and therapeutic applications. Nanobubbles can be used as therapeutic cavitation nuclei for ultrasound-induced sonoporation, which leads to the formation of transient pores in plasma membranes and modifies cell permeability. The nanobubble development is challenging because there are several physico-chemical parameters and stability issues to take into account. The structure and composition can play a crucial role for their future bio-applications. The main formulation criteria for the design of nanobubbles should be based on the three nanostructure pillars: the core, the shell, and the interface.
