Ultrasound contrast agents: from imaging to therapy

Ayache Bouakaz (1)

1 iBraiN - Imaging, Brain & Neuropsychiatry

Contrast agents, consisting of tiny gas microbubbles are currently approved for ultrasound imaging in cardiology and in radiology. The microbubbles have a mean size of about 3 microns and are encapsulated by a thin biocompatible layer. Multiple clinical studies have established the utility of ultrasound contrast agents (UCA) in improving accuracy of echography for the diagnosis of many diseases and in reducing health care costs by eliminating the need for additional testing. Future clinical applications of UCA extend beyond imaging and diagnostic, offering to ultrasound technology a new therapeutic dimension. Since a few years, novel therapeutic strategies are explored using microbubbles and ultrasound. Our current data demonstrate that in the presence of microbubbles, ultrasound waves destabilize transiently the cell membrane allowing the incorporation of drugs, including genes into the cells. Moreover, the microbubbles might be used as a drug vehicle to achieve a spatially and temporally controlled local release. Besides, microbubbles are able to identify diseased targets through specific targeting.

Mots clés: Ultrasound; Contrast agent; therapy; delivery

Domaines: Acoustique [physics.class-ph]

Ayache Bouakaz. Ultrasound contrast agents: from imaging to therapy. Acoustics 2012, Apr 2012, Nantes, France. ⟨hal-00811139⟩