Abstract
Continued advances in the field of ultrasound and ultrasound contrast agents have created new approaches to imaging and medical intervention. Phase-shift perfluorocarbon droplets, which can be vaporized by ultrasound energy to transition from the liquid to the vapor state, are one of the most highly researched alternatives to clinical ultrasound contrast agents (i.e., microbubbles). In this paper, part of a special issue on methods in biomedical ultrasonics, we survey current techniques to prepare ultrasound-activated nanoscale phase-shift perfluorocarbon droplets, including sonication, extrusion, homogenization, microfluidics, and microbubble condensation. We provide example protocols and discuss advantages and limitations of each approach. Finally, we discuss best practice in characterization of this class of contrast agents with respect to size distribution and ultrasound activation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 7604095 |
Pages (from-to) | 252-263 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2017 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- High-intensity focused ultrasound
- medical imaging
- therapeutics
- ultrasound contrast agents
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Instrumentation
- Acoustics and Ultrasonics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering