Ultrasound and Microbubbles

Ultrasound diagnostic imaging is a widely used modality in clinical practice. It has advantages over other imaging modalities like MRI, CT and X-ray because it is safer, cheaper and more portable.  

Microbubbles are 1-10 micrometer acoustically-active surfactant stablized gas spheres that are utilized for contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging to measure blood perfusion and volume and to aid in early disease detection and diagnosis. 

Additionally, the therapeutic effect of microbubbles triggered by ultrasound waves is being explored for targeted drug/gene delivery to disease sites with the aim of eliminating side-effects associated with current treatment methods.

Lipid-stabilized gas microbubble