Sonogenetics for precision medicine: from molecular toolkit to clinical translation

Sonogenetics is an emerging technology for precise biological modulation. It utilizes ultrasound waves for remote, noninvasive, and spatiotemporally precise functional intervention in target cells genetically engineered for acoustic sensitivity. This review systematically summarizes the three core components comprising sonogenetics: sound-responsive agents for modulating cellular functions, highly efficient vectors for targeted gene delivery, and ultrasound emitters with optimized parameters. Furthermore, we delineate optimization strategies for these components and propose a standardized workflow for sonogenetic operations. This review proposes strategies to accelerate the transformation process of sonogenetics by analyzing current limitations in regulatory efficiency and clinical safety. Finally, this review discusses the existing technical challenges and transformation bottlenecks, and points out the promising directions of future research.