StemBells: A novel stem cell delivery platform using microbubbles and ultrasound

Abstract

Bubbles are omnipresent. It is the popping of bubbles present in the water that produces the characteristic sound of meandering brooks, boiling water [1] and breaking waves at the beach. The popping of bubbles can generate great forces, an effect which is employed in ultrasound baths to remove dirt and biofilms from all kind of objects, such as jewelry. In the ocean, pistol shrimps make use of the violent collapse of bubbles, produced by the rapid closure of their special snapper claw, to daze their preys. Furthermore, without the presence of tiny (carbon dioxide) bubbles, soft drinks would not have the sparkling taste and beers not a foamy head. Bubbles are also good adsorbers of dirt, which is used in industry to clean greasy machinery and piping.