Microbombs detonated by ultrasound can blast away tooth decay bacteria

Cavity-causing bacteria can be blown away by microscopic “bombs” detonated by an ultrasonic toothbrush.

Ultrasound can cause some liquids, such as perfluorohexane (PFH), to expand rapidly and turn into a gas. Some researchers are studying the use of tiny degradable capsules containing these liquids to deliver drugs into the body or blow away cancerous tumors.

Now, Xian-Zheng Zhang and colleagues at Wuhan University in China have developed PFH-containing capsules designed to disrupt biofilms, aggregates of microorganisms.