Optically and acoustically triggerable sub-micron phase-change contrast agents for enhanced photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
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.
Date Issued
2017-04-11
Date Acceptance
2017-04-08
Citation
Photoacoustics, 2017, 6, pp.26-36
ISSN
2213-5979
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
26
End Page
36
Journal / Book Title
Photoacoustics
Volume
6
Copyright Statement
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH. This is an open access article under
the CC-BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
the CC-BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28507898
PII: S2213-5979(16)30059-3
Subjects
Droplet
Microbubble
Multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT)
Optical/acoustic vaporisation
Phase-change contrast agent
Photoacoustic
Ultrasound
Publication Status
Published online
Coverage Spatial
Germany