Prof. Dr. Outi Supponen

Area of Research

Description of Research Interest

We investigate how so-called cavitation bubbles form and how they interact with their environment. These are gas bubbles that contract violently and expand abruptly in liquids when exposed to strong sound waves. Such bubbles can temporarily open cells to allow drugs to enter, or destroy tissue and solid structures such as kidney stones. To make these processes visible, we use ultra-fast video and fluorescence microscopy, X-ray imaging and sound measurements. The findings could help make sound wave treatments more targeted, safer and more effective – for example, in the treatment of brain diseases, tumours, blood clots, infections or kidney stones. In particular, we study the fluid dynamics associated with:

• Encapsulated micro-bubbles and nanodroplets
  
• Payload release of ultrasound-responsive agents
  
• Bubble interactions with vessels and soft tissues
  
• Blood-brain-barrier permeabilisation mechanisms via focused ultrasound and microbubbles 
  
• Bubble clouds in lithotripsy and histotripsy using shock waves and high-intensity focused ultrasound
  
• Cavitation effects in sonophoresis and transdermal drug delivery
  

Special Expertise

• cavitation
  
• fluid physics
  
• ultrasound contrast agent microbubbles
  
• therapeutic ultrasound and shock waves
  
• high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
  
• extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
  

Shareable Platforms, Services, Equipment & Infrastructure

• ultra-high-speed videomicroscopy and fluorescence microscopy
  
• ultrasound imaging research systems
  
• therapeutic ultrasound and shock wave systems
  
• ultrasound-responsive agents
  
• ultrasound contrast agent microbubbles
  

Member of Collaborative/interdisciplinary Research Consortia

SKINTEGRITY, CaviPRO (EU MSCA DN)