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Updated: May 20, 2026
Multi-timescale Microscopy Methods for the Characterization of Fluorescently-labeled Microbubbles for Ultrasound-Triggered Drug Release
Published on: June 12, 2021
Microbubbles as ultrasound contrast agents for molecular imaging: preparation and application
Sunil Unnikrishnan1, Alexander L Klibanov
1Cardiovascular Division, Cardiovascular Research Center, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, MR4 RM3146, 409 Lane Rd, PO Box 800158, Charlottesville, VA 22098, USA.
Objective:
The purpose of this review is to describe trends in microbubble application in molecular imaging.
Conclusion:
Microbubbles are used for contrast ultrasound imaging as blood-pool agents in cardiology and radiology. Their promise as targeted agents for molecular imaging is now being recognized. Microbubbles can be functionalized with ligand molecules that bind to molecular markers of disease. Potential clinical applications of molecular imaging with microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents are in the monitoring of the biomarker status of vascular endothelium, visualizing tumor vasculature, and imaging inflammation and ischemia-reperfusion injury zones and thrombi.
