New model showcases microbubble behavior in viscoelastic fluid under ultrasound forcing

Encapsulated microbubbles (EMBs), tiny gas-filled bubbles coated in lipid or protein shells, play a central role in biomedical ultrasound. When exposed to ultrasound waves, EMBs contract, resulting in oscillations that enhance image contrast or deliver drugs directly by creating pores in cell membranes via sonoporation. However, while promising for biomedical applications, their behavior is far more complex.