EPR analysis of radicals generated in ultrasound assisted lipoplasty simulated environment

The generation of various radicals by application of continuous wave (CW) h igh-intensity ultrasound energy (HIUE) to an aqueous biologic medium contai ning spin traps, under conditions simulating ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL), was demonstrated by EPR spectroscopy. The addition of water- solubl e antioxidants, ascorbic acid and glutathione to the wetting solution subst antially reduces the levels of hydroxyl radicals in the sonicated medium. T hese findings provide direct evidence for the generation of cavitation in t he simulated intercellular environment, corroborating previous data, and po inting out that generation of transient cavitation in clinical UAL and othe r therapeutic and surgical applications of ultrasound is possible. The find ings indicate that the effect of transient cavitation in aqueous biologic m edia may be similar to the effects of ionizing radiation, and raise the que stion of the long-term biosafety of the use of CW HIUE in UAL. The introduc tion of biocompatible water-soluble antioxidants to the sonicated medium ma y be utilized to suppress accumulation of radicals and reduce their possibl e adverse effects. (C) 2001 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & B iology.