[Molecular ultrasound imaging: Clinical applications]

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is vital for cardiovascular and liver diagnostics.
• Emerging molecular contrast agents offer new avenues for pathomechanistic diagnostics.
• Clinical translation of these agents is actively underway.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on molecular ultrasound contrast agents.
• To discuss their development, detection methods, and applications.
• To highlight their potential in preclinical and clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Literature analysis of molecular ultrasound contrast agent development.
• Review of detection methodologies.
• Examination of preclinical and clinical study applications.

Main Results:

• Molecular contrast agents are established in preclinical research for detecting inflammation and angiogenesis.
• These agents are microbubbles (1-5 µm) with targeted biomolecules.
• BR55, targeting VEGFR2, is the first clinically evaluated agent for tumor diagnostics.

Conclusions:

• Molecular ultrasound imaging is rapidly advancing in preclinical research.
• Clinical translation is feasible for numerous indications.
• BR55 is currently undergoing clinical evaluation for tumor characterization.