Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging and in Vivo Circulatory Kinetics with Low-Boiling-Point Nanoscale Phase-Change Perfluorocarbon Agents

Abstract Many studies have explored phase-change contrast agents (PCCAs) that can be vaporized by an ultrasonic pulse to form microbubbles for ultrasound imaging and therapy. However, few investigations have been published on the utility and characteristics of PCCAs as contrast agents in vivo . In t...

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Published inUltrasound in medicine & biology Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 814 - 831
Main Authors Sheeran, Paul S, Rojas, Juan D, Puett, Connor, Hjelmquist, Jordan, Arena, Christopher B, Dayton, Paul A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Elsevier Inc 01.03.2015
Subjects
Acoustic droplet vaporization
Animals
Contrast agent
Contrast Media - chemistry
Contrast Media - pharmacokinetics
Fluorocarbons - chemistry
Fluorocarbons - pharmacokinetics
Kidney - blood supply
Kidney - diagnostic imaging
Kinetics
Microbubble
Microbubbles
Perfluorobutane
Perfluoropropane
Phase change
Phase Transition
Radiology
Rats
Rats, Inbred F344
Transducers
Ultrasonography - methods
Ultrasound
Microbubble
Acoustic droplet vaporization
Phase change
Perfluoropropane
Perfluorobutane
Contrast agent
Ultrasound
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Summary:Abstract Many studies have explored phase-change contrast agents (PCCAs) that can be vaporized by an ultrasonic pulse to form microbubbles for ultrasound imaging and therapy. However, few investigations have been published on the utility and characteristics of PCCAs as contrast agents in vivo . In this study, we examine the properties of low-boiling-point nanoscale PCCAs evaluated in vivo and compare data with those for conventional microbubbles with respect to contrast generation and circulation properties. To do this, we develop a custom pulse sequence to vaporize and image PCCAs using the Verasonics research platform and a clinical array transducer. Results indicate that droplets can produce contrast enhancement similar to that of microbubbles (7.29 to 18.24 dB over baseline, depending on formulation) and can be designed to circulate for as much as 3.3 times longer than microbubbles. This study also reports for the first time the ability to capture contrast washout kinetics of the target organ as a measure of vascular perfusion.
ISSN:0301-5629
1879-291X
DOI:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2014.10.020