Background and aims: Ultrasound (US)-targeted microbubble (MB) destruction (UTMD) is a technique in which low-intensity US is applied in combination with MBs. This review focuses on different experimental applications of UTMD as tools for drug and gene delivery targeting liver diseases.
 
Methods: The most recent literature concerning the use of UTMD for liver diseases is reviewed. We include a discussion of the application of the UTMD technique in preclinical studies of liver diseases, which have established the safety and effectiveness of UTMD as a hepatic therapy. In addition to the principles and mechanism of UTMD, the limitations and optimization of this technique are introduced. Moreover, new advances in using UTMD for hepatic drug delivery and gene therapy are highlighted.
 
Results: The UTMD technique allows specific substances to overcome physiological barriers and reach target tissues or organs. UTMD has been shown to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of drugs targeting hepatic tumors, hepatic gene defect diseases and hepatic fibrosis. Although UTMD therapy has great qualities, many aspects of this approach must still be improved, such as the sonographic parameters, drug-loading capacity, spectrum of treatable diseases and clinical applications in hepatic diseases.
 
Conclusions: Among the therapies for liver diseases, UTMD has the greatest potential for treating humans. UTMD may be combined with imaging diagnostic techniques or interventional radiological approaches for targeting and noninvasion.