2023 年 33 巻 2 号 p. 107-115
Effects of ultrasonication to solutions of chemical compounds and polymers have been widely investigated in the field of sonochemistry. Previously, we revealed that ultrasonication to supersaturated protein solutions induces formation of amyloid fibrils, which are protein aggregates causing intractable diseases. We have investigated the mechanism of ultrasonic induction of amyloid fibril formation and attempt to apply this phenomenon to clinical diagnosis by developing ultrasonic instruments. In this article, we review the general effects of ultrasonic cavitation on chemical reactions, summarize the current understanding of the mechanism of ultrasonic induction of amyloid fibril formation, and introduce an example of the clinical application of the originally developed ultrasonic amyloid inducer.
