Figure 5.

Ultrasound-induced mechanical effects include cavitation, which can be either stable or collapse. In stable cavitation, the microbubble oscillates about an equilibrium size, resulting in microstreaming in the surrounding liquid. On the contrary, in collapse cavitation, the microbubble exceeds its equilibrium size and expands until it implodes. This, in turn, leads to three distinct outcomes: (1) liquid microjets formation, (2) shockwaves, and (3) sonochemistry. All these together can destabilize the liposomal lipid bilayer, releasing the encapsulated cargo.