Logo image
Ultrasound contrast agents
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Ultrasound contrast agents

M. A. Wheatley and M. Cochran
Journal of drug delivery science and technology, v 23(1)
01 Jan 2013

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Pharmacology & Pharmacy Science & Technology
Microbubbles, developed as ultrasound contrast agents for vascular imaging are valuable theranostic agents for multiple biomedical applications. The utility of these agents can be attributed to their unique response to ultrasound. When exposed to an acoustic pulse, microbubbles can resonate to create a strong acoustic signal that can be used to diagnose conditions including cardiac abnormalities and cancerous lesions. Microbubble resonance can also generate powerful and localized forces capable of creating pores in cell membranes and blood vessels that can be used for targeted drug and gene delivery as well as thromoblysis and opening of the blood brain barrier. Microbubbles have been encapsulated with a variety of materials including lipids, proteins and polymers, these materials have been shown to control a microbubble's acoustic properties as well as its effectiveness as a drug carrier. This review focuses on the progress of microbubbles and the applications of microbubbles as theragnostic agents.

Metrics

7 Record Views
11 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Web of Science research areas
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Logo image