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Multi-timescale Microscopy Methods for the Characterization of Fluorescently-labeled Microbubbles for Ultrasound-Triggered Drug Release
Published on: June 12, 2021
Polymeric microbubbles for ultrasonic molecular imaging and targeted therapeutics
Xiaoyan Xiong1, Fenglong Zhao, Mengran Shi
1Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, PR China.
Journal of Biomaterials Science. Polymer Edition
|December 15, 2010
Summary
Polymer-shelled microbubbles offer enhanced ultrasound imaging sensitivity and serve as effective drug/gene carriers. Their stability and tunable properties make them promising for advanced biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Ultrasound Technology
Background:
- Gas-filled microbubbles are crucial ultrasound contrast agents and drug/gene delivery vehicles.
- Polymer-shelled microbubbles exhibit superior in vivo stability compared to other microbubble types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in polymer-shelled microbubbles.
- To highlight their applications in ultrasound molecular imaging and targeted drug delivery.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of polymer-shelled microbubbles with various materials and core gases.
- Utilizing destructive ultrasound to generate strong non-linear signals for imaging.
- Chemical and physical modifications for site-specific targeting and controlled release.
Main Results:
- Polymer-shelled microbubbles provide superior sensitivity in ultrasound imaging.
- Their thick shells facilitate high drug loading capacity.
- Demonstrated potential for targeted drug/gene delivery systems.
Conclusions:
- Polymer-shelled microbubbles are highly promising for multimodal biomedical applications.
- They offer significant advantages in both diagnostic imaging and therapeutic delivery.
