Science AI Journal
Engineering · Research topic

Open research questions in Ultrasound and Hyperthermia Applications

101 gap statements mined from Ultrasound and Hyperthermia Applications papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 393 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

What the literature leaves open

  • The study was retrospective, - The sample size was limited to 112 patients, - The study was conducted at a single hospital, - The study did not include a control group, - The study did not investigate the long-term outcomes of the patients

    Differentiation of clear cell and non clear cell renal cell carcinoma through high-frame-rate contrast-enhanced ultrasound · 2026 · DOI

  • The current methods for differentiating between clear cell and non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma have limitations. There is a need for a more accurate and reliable method for differentiating between types of carcinoma. High-frame-rate contrast-enhanced ultrasound has the potential to fill this gap.

    Differentiation of clear cell and non clear cell renal cell carcinoma through high-frame-rate contrast-enhanced ultrasound · 2026 · DOI

  • Further investigation into the physiological mechanisms underlying LIFU's effects, - Exploring the integration of LIFU with other SUD treatment modalities, - Standardized reporting of ultrasound parameters

    The therapeutic potential of low-intensity focused ultrasound for treating substance use disorder · 2024 · DOI

  • Most studies employ moderate parameters that induce Class II SIR with robust BBB modulation, with reports indicating acute immune activation within 5 min and up to 3 days post-treatment; however, longer-term dynamics remain unclear.

    Neuroinflammation from ultrasound-driven blood-brain barrier modulation features early NFκB innate and late interferon immune stages · 2026 · DOI

  • These results suggest that piezoelectric electrospun hydrogel scaffolds may be a pathway for safer and more biocompatible restoration after TBI, but provide insufficient evidence to conclude that the scaffold significantly improved motor recovery.

    The effect of an ultrasound-activated electrospun piezoelectric hydrogel scaffold on post-traumatic brain injury motor function in Drosophila melanogaster · 2026 · DOI

  • This review describes several common POCUS applications used in gastroenterology and hepatology, as well as some novel applications that warrant further investigation.

    Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Gastroenterology and Hepatology · 2025 · DOI

  • Despite extensive research, the quantitative relationship between bubble structure, acoustic response, and therapeutic efficacy remains poorly understood.

    A Review on the Structure-Response-Efficacy Optimization of Ultrasound-Responsive Micro/Nanobubbles for Cancer Therapy · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the downstream physiological effects following BBB opening, particularly secondary responses, are not well understood.

    Single Exposure to Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Causes Biphasic Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier Through Secondary Mechanisms · 2025 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) show potential for treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), however, their homing to the lungs and survival time are insufficient.

    Ultrasound assisted homing of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells promotes recovery from acute respiratory distress syndrome · 2025 · DOI

  • Background/Objectives: Focused ultrasound (FUS) and microbubble (MB) exposure is a promising technique for targeted drug delivery to the brain; however, refinement of protocols suitable for large-volume treatments in a clinical setting remains underexplored.

    Investigation of Sonication Parameters for Large-Volume Focused Ultrasound-Mediated Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability Enhancement Using a Clinical-Prototype Hemispherical Phased Array · 2024 · DOI

  • Studies in humans have shown that tFUS can successfully modulate perfusion in focal sonication targets, including the amygdala; however, limited research has explored how tFUS impacts large-scale neural networks.

    Alterations in large-scale resting-state network nodes following transcranial focused ultrasound of deep brain structures · 2024 · DOI

  • There is a need for non-invasive therapeutic tools for PD. Current therapies have limitations, such as invasiveness and side effects.

    Suppression of pathological oscillations with transcranial focused ultrasound in Parkinson’s disease · 2026 · DOI

  • It was not possible to deliver TUS during UPDRS-III assessments, so these assessments were conducted 'off-line' after TUS had stopped, limiting real-time measurement of treatment effects.

    Suppression of pathological oscillations with transcranial focused ultrasound in Parkinson’s disease · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for further research on the comparative efficacy and safety of LITT, FUS, and RFA - There is a need for further research on the roles of LITT, FUS, and RFA in minimally invasive neurosurgery

    From competition to complementarity: narrative review of laser interstitial thermal therapy, focused ultrasound, and radiofrequency ablation in minimally invasive neurosurgery · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the use of FUS for therapeutic delivery in CCM. The study highlights the need for further investigation into the use of FUS for therapeutic delivery in CCM.

    Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Focused Ultrasound Therapeutics · 2026 · DOI

  • Accordingly, future studies should investigate the delivery of larger agents using contrast proxies such as gadolinium-labeled IgG or superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. In our work, we demonstrate that FUS-mediated BBBO enhances the delivery of systemically administered agents; however, the extent to which this improved delivery translates to therapeutic benefit remains unclear. A key limitation of both 4T1 and EMT6 models is their reliance on implantable tumor systems. This wide range of therapeutic sizes, combined with evidence that VN modulates delivery in a size- dependent manner at baseline19, highlights an important gap in understanding how larger agents behave in the context of FUS+VN. While MultiHance serves as a useful proxy for small-molecule delivery and GadoSpin D for small biologics, investigation of larger agents is warranted to better model the delivery of therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies230 and gene therapies. As a result, the conclusions drawn here may primarily reflect the behavior of familial disease, and additional studies in sporadic models are warranted to determine whether similar susceptibility and treatment-related effects are observed across CCM subtypes. Therefore, future studies evaluating FUS in the absence of MBs are warranted to determine whether FUS alone can influence lesion growth and progression.

    Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Focused Ultrasound Therapeutics · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for non-invasive therapeutic strategies to reduce neuroinflammation in neurological diseases. The effects of ultrasound on microglial activity and neuroinflammation are not well understood.

    Ultrasound modulates microglial activity and reduces neuroinflammation in a parameter-dependent manner · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies on the application of the ultrasound-assisted pH-shifting method for encapsulating other lipophilic bioactives. Investigation of the in vivo efficacy and safety of the composite protein nanoparticles.

    High-performance astaxanthin-loaded composite nanoparticles: fabrication via ultrasound-assisted pH-shifting and characterization of encapsulation, stability, and bioavailability · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited approaches for encapsulating lipophilic bioactives with high efficiency and stability. Need for a versatile method for delivering bioactive substances.

    High-performance astaxanthin-loaded composite nanoparticles: fabrication via ultrasound-assisted pH-shifting and characterization of encapsulation, stability, and bioavailability · 2026 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to fully explore the potential of USNS as a treatment for mood disorders. Studies should investigate the long-term effects of USNS and compare it to other brain stimulation techniques. Research should explore the use of USNS in combination with other therapies to enhance treatment outcomes.

    Optimized ultrasound neurostimulation of ventromedial prefrontal cortex reverses depression behaviours and normalizes brain metabolism · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for novel therapies for mood disorders that can overcome the limitations of current treatments. There is a lack of understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of brain stimulation techniques on brain metabolism.

    Optimized ultrasound neurostimulation of ventromedial prefrontal cortex reverses depression behaviours and normalizes brain metabolism · 2026 · DOI

  • The limited depth of penetration of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques like TMS and tDCS. The lack of comprehensive reviews on the application of tFUS in AD. The need for standardisation of acoustic protocols and longitudinal clinical cohorts to establish the long-term efficacy of tFUS.

    Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation for Alzheimer’s Disease—A Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

  • The transient effect of antibodies targeting Ly6C and Ly6G on intratumoral isMCs. The depletion of T cells and dendritic cells following myeloid cell targeting strategies. The limited understanding of the tumor microenvironment and its response to myeloid cell targeting strategies.

    Myeloid Cell Targeting Strategies Show Limited Durable Activity in the Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment and Do Not Enhance the Activity of Thermally Ablative Focused Ultrasound · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigating alternative myeloid cell targeting strategies. Examining the effects of T-FUS on other types of cancer. Developing more effective and durable treatments for TNBC.

    Myeloid Cell Targeting Strategies Show Limited Durable Activity in the Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment and Do Not Enhance the Activity of Thermally Ablative Focused Ultrasound · 2026 · DOI

  • Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) is a promising neuromodulation modality, but challenges related to high response variability and the poorly understood parameter space undermine progress in clinical applications.

    Bayesian-enhanced closed-loop optimization of ultrasound protocols for targeted and precise neuromodulation · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Ultrasound and Hyperthermia Applications

Most recent work

Find a gap in your own Ultrasound and Hyperthermia Applications sub-topic

This page shows what the Ultrasound and Hyperthermia Applications literature already flags as unresolved. To narrow it to your specific question, search the Research Gap Finder: the search is free with a free account and lists the papers closest to your topic first. Unlocking that topic (50 credits, charged once) fills the comparison table from our 4.5M-paper local library and writes the gaps from its rows.

Open the Research Gap Finder →

Related topics in Engineering

Human auditory perception and evaluation
606 open questions
Urban Design and Spatial Analysis
502 open questions
Perovskite Materials and Applications
464 open questions
Spatial Cognition and Navigation
455 open questions
Traffic and Road Safety
428 open questions
Concrete and Cement Materials Research
418 open questions
Advancements in Battery Materials
389 open questions
Digital Transformation in Industry
382 open questions
101 gap statements have been mined from Ultrasound and Hyperthermia Applications papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 393 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

Tools for your next paper

Gaps & Literature SearchFind open questions in any field — 120,000+ open gaps mined from our own library.Pre-CheckIs your paper ready? Acceptance odds for top, mid and open/emerging journals, in seconds.Journal FinderA ranked shortlist of target journals from a 17,500-venue index.Duplicate Publication CheckerCheck for prior publication across 7 sources and our local library.Citation GeneratorFreeA DOI or title → APA, MLA, Vancouver, Chicago, BibTeX, RIS. No signup.Graphical Abstract MakerFreeTurn your findings into a colorblind-safe graphical abstract.

How Pre-Check worksHow AI Review works

Compare the category — Honest roundups of the AI research tools, ours listed alongside the alternatives.

Command palette

Jump anywhere, run any action.