Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
06:02
Multi-timescale Microscopy Methods for the Characterization of Fluorescently-labeled Microbubbles for Ultrasound-Triggered Drug Release
Published on: June 12, 2021
Superparamagnetic nanoparticle-inclusion microbubbles for ultrasound contrast agents
1State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, Peoples Republic of China. yangfang2080@yahoo.com.cn
Physics in Medicine and Biology
|October 16, 2008
Summary
New ultrasound contrast agents with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles offer enhanced imaging. These microbubbles improve US contrast and signal, with potential for dual MRI and US applications.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Materials Science
Background:
- Ultrasound (US) contrast agents are crucial for diagnostic imaging.
- Current agents lack multimodal capabilities.
- Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO) are known MRI contrast agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize novel US contrast agents incorporating SPIO.
- To evaluate the performance of these SPIO-containing microbubbles for US imaging.
- To explore their potential for dual-modality MRI and US applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of microbubbles with a gas core, SPIO nanoparticle layer, and oil-in-water emulsion.
- Characterization of microbubble size (mean diameter 760 nm) and polydispersity index (0.699).
- In vitro and in vivo experiments comparing SPIO-containing microbubbles with conventional ones.
Main Results:
- SPIO-containing microbubbles demonstrated superior contrast enhancement in US images.
- These microbubbles generated significantly higher backscattering signals (mean grey scale 97.9, a 38.6 increase).
- In vitro studies confirmed SPIO's capability as an MRI contrast agent.
Conclusions:
- Novel SPIO-containing microbubbles represent an advancement in US contrast agents.
- The enhanced signal and contrast improve diagnostic accuracy.
- These agents hold promise for future dual-modality (MRI/US) clinical imaging.