Targeted ultrasonic contrast agents for molecular imaging and therapy.
Targeted contrast agents are expanding the detectability and diagnosis of pathology from a strict anatomic to biochemical basis. Moreover, these new agents, in their various forms, offer the potential for site-specific drug and gene delivery, ie, the "magic bullet" first postulated by Paul Erhlich 100 years ago. The ability to direct drugs to the molecular signatures of disease, to confirm noninvasively their presence at the site-of-interest, and to quantify the adequacy of local drug concentration at the time of treatment, ie, rational targeted drug delivery, offers exciting new clinical paradigms in the near future.
Lanza
G M
GM
Division of Cardiology, Washington University Medical School, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Wickline
S A
SA
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003287:Contrast Media; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008863:Microspheres; D010743:Phospholipids; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014465:Ultrasonics; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003287:Contrast Media; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D008024:Ligands; C112670:MRX 408; D010743:Phospholipids; C042852:perflutren