Acoustic response from adherent targeted contrast agents.
In ultrasonic molecular imaging, encapsulated micron-sized gas bubbles are tethered to a blood vessel wall by targeting ligands. A challenging problem is to detect the echoes from adherent microbubbles and distinguish them from echoes from nonadherent agents and tissue. Echoes from adherent contrast agents are observed to include a high amplitude at the fundamental frequency, and significantly different spectral shape compared with free agents (p <0.0003). Mechanisms for the observed acoustical difference and potential techniques to utilize these differences for molecular imaging are proposed.
Zhao
Shukui
S
Kruse
Dustin E
DE
Ferrara
Katherine W
KW
Dayton
Paul A
PA
D000162:Acoustics; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media