Ultrasound for Deep Tissue Penetration

We are developing tools for wireless, deep tissue actuation of cells, delivery of therapeutics to the brain and new ways to achieve transcranial neuromodulation and are studying the underlying biophysical mechanisms that underlie ultrasound-cell interactions.

The acoustic hologram can be used to shape and form pressure images by passing an ultrasound wave through a printed hologram (Melde et al. Nature 2016). We have since shown that the pressure images can be used to assemble cells into complex patterns inside a cell medium (Ma et al. Adv. Mat. 2020). Most recently also in 3D, where we managed to realize the first fully connected three-dimensional pressure patterns (Melde et al. Science Adv. 2023).

Our research is now addressing the fundamental question how ultrasound interacts with and influences neurons and more generally cells. While there are many hypotheses, it is thus far an unsolved question how sound waves interact with cells. To this end we have developed setups where we can control all relevant ultrasound parameters in vitro as well as in vitro. In two exciting in vivo projects we have developed setups to shape ultrasound for transcranial ultrasound applications to wirelessly induce a thermoresponse in mice (collaboration with lab of Jan Siemens) and to study and realize sonogentics in mice (within the newly founded Max Planck-Yonsei IBS Center for Nanomedicine Deep Tissue Control).

“All-optically controlled phased-array for ultrasonics”, R Goyal, O Demeulenaere, M Fournelle, AG Athanassiadis, P Fischer, Nature Comm. (2025).

“Ultrasound-assisted tissue engineering”, K Melde, AG Athanassiadis, D Missirlis, M Shi, S Seneca, P Fischer, Nature Reviews Bioengineering 2 (6), 486-500 (2024).

“Compact holographic sound fields enable rapid one-step assembly of matter in 3D", K. Melde, H. Kremer, M. Shi, S. Seneca, C. Frey, I. Platzman, C. Degel, D. Schmitt, B. Schölkopf, P. Fischer, Science Advances 9, eadf6182, (2023).

“Antibubbles Enable Tunable Payload Release with Low-Intensity Ultrasound”, N Moreno-Gomez, AG Athanassiadis, A Poortinga, P Fischer, Adv. Mat. 35 (48), 2305296, (2023).

“Acoustic Holographic Cell Patterning in a Biocompatible Hydrogel”, Z. Ma, A. Holle, K. Melde, T. Qiu, K. Pöppel, V. Kadiri, P. Fischer, Adv. Mat. 32, 1904181 (2020).

“Spatial ultrasound modulation by digitally controlling microbubble arrays”, Z Ma, K Melde, AG Athanassiadis, M Schau, H Richter, T Qiu, P Fischer, Nature Comm. 11, 4537 (2020).

"Holograms for acoustics", K. Melde, A.G. Mark, T. Qiu, P. Fischer, Nature 537, 518–522, (2016).