Optically and acoustically triggerable sub-micron phase-change contrast agents for enhanced photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging.
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ICR Authors
Authors
Lin, S
Shah, A
Hernández-Gil, J
Stanziola, A
Harriss, BI
Matsunaga, TO
Long, N
Bamber, J
Tang, M-X
Shah, A
Hernández-Gil, J
Stanziola, A
Harriss, BI
Matsunaga, TO
Long, N
Bamber, J
Tang, M-X
Document Type
Journal Article
Date
2017-06-01
Date Accepted
2017-04-08
Abstract
We demonstrate a versatile phase-change sub-micron contrast agent providing three modes of contrast enhancement: 1) photoacoustic imaging contrast, 2) ultrasound contrast with optical activation, and 3) ultrasound contrast with acoustic activation. This agent, which we name 'Cy-droplet', has the following novel features. It comprises a highly volatile perfluorocarbon for easy versatile activation, and a near-infrared optically absorbing dye chosen to absorb light at a wavelength with good tissue penetration. It is manufactured via a 'microbubble condensation' method. The phase-transition of Cy-droplets can be optically triggered by pulsed-laser illumination, inducing photoacoustic signal and forming stable gas bubbles that are visible with echo-ultrasound in situ. Alternatively, Cy-droplets can be converted to microbubble contrast agents upon acoustic activation with clinical ultrasound. Potentially all modes offer extravascular contrast enhancement because of the sub-micron initial size. Such versatility of acoustic and optical 'triggerability' can potentially improve multi-modality imaging, molecularly targeted imaging and controlled drug release.
Citation
Photoacoustics, 2017, 6 pp. 26 - 36
Source Title
Publisher
ELSEVIER GMBH
ISSN
2213-5979
eISSN
2213-5979
Collections
Research Team
Ultrasound & Optical Imaging