title: Therapeutic applications of microbubbles.
abstract: Microbubbles, currently used as contrast agents have potential therapeutic applications. Microbubbles, upon insonation of sufficiently intense ultrasound will cavitate. Cavitation with microbubbles can be used to dissolve blood clots or deliver drugs. Targeting ligands and drugs can be incorporated into microbubbles to make highly specific diagnostic and therapeutic agents for activation with ultrasound. In this paper I will review some of these potential applications and experimental results using such agents for thrombolysis, drug and gene delivery.
authors.affiliation: ImaRx Therapeutics, Inc., 1635 East 18th St., Tucson, AZ 85719, USA.
authors.forename: Evan C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: Terry Onichi
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McCreery
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schumann
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sweitzer
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quigley
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D004337:Drug Carriers; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008863:Microspheres; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D004337:Drug Carriers