More Than Bubbles: Creating Phase-Shift Droplets from Commercially Available Ultrasound Contrast Agents

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2017 Feb;43(2):531-540. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2016.09.003. Epub 2016 Oct 7.

Abstract

Phase-shift perfluorocarbon droplets have been investigated for over 20 years as pre-clinical ultrasound contrast agents with distinctive advantages in imaging and therapy. A number of formulation strategies exist, each with inherent advantages and limitations. In this note, we demonstrate a unique opportunity: that phase-shift droplets can be generated directly from commercially available microbubbles. This may facilitate pre-clinical and translational development by reducing the in-house synthesis expertise and resources required to generate high concentration droplet emulsions. Proof-of-principle in vitro and in vivo is given using droplets created from Definity and MicroMarker. The results demonstrate the role of perfluorocarbon choice in the trade-off between thermal stability and vaporization threshold, and suggest that commercial microbubbles with decafluorobutane cores may be ideal for this approach.

Keywords: Acoustic droplet vaporization; Definity; MicroMarker; Perfluorocarbon; Phase-shift droplets; Ultrasound contrast agents.

Publication types

  • Technical Report
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Contrast Media / chemistry*
  • Fluorocarbons / chemistry*
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Liver / diagnostic imaging
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Microbubbles*
  • Models, Animal
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Ultrasonography / methods*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Fluorocarbons
  • perfluorobutane
  • perflutren

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