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iDEA: DREXEL LIBRARIES E-REPOSITORY AND ARCHIVES

iDEA: DREXEL LIBRARIES E-REPOSITORY AND ARCHIVES

Main sections

Nano-sized ultrasound contrast agent: feasibility study

Details
Title
Nano-sized ultrasound contrast agent: feasibility study
Author(s)
Kwon, S.; Wheatley, Margaret A.
Keywords
Biosensors; Biomarkers; Bioimaging; Bioinformatics
Date
2006
Abstract
Among several imaging modalities, ultrasound has a lot of benefits such as low cost, noninvasiveness, and 3-D imaging. However, it needs the help of contrast agents to observe detail of vascular events. Even though long circulating nano-sized particles are preferred to micro ones for vascular delivery, current contrast agents primarily comprise microbubble formulations. To overcome difficulty of improving weak echogenicity of nano-sized particles, gas-filled nanoparticles were designed with poly (D,L-lactic acid) (PLA) as a platform material. Sublimable porogens such as camphor were added to make nanoparticles hollow and enable efficient gas introduction. A sulfur hexafluoride gas (SF6), one of the hydrophobic and bio-inert gases, was introduced to enhance backscattered signals. Factors to affect physico-acoustic properties of particles were considered to optimize a gas-filled nanoparticles preparation method. Various poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) concentration, various transducer frequency, and different kinds of porogens were tried further to maximize agent capability. Dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy results demonstrated that the created nanoparticles have approximately 200 nm size with unimodal distribution and spherical shape. These particles containing SF6 gas have shown better enhancements rather than air incorporated ones at 5 MHz frequency. Thus, we can conclude that this study is pioneering work to present another possibility on nanobiotechnology.
Citation
Poster presented at Biomedical Technology Showcase 2006, Philadelphia, PA. Retrieved 18 Aug 2006 from http://www.biomed.drexel.edu/new04/Content/Biomed_Tech_Showcase/Poster_Presentations/Wheatley_6.pdf.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1860/946
In Collections
Drexel Research

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