Microbubbles loaded with nanoparticles: a route to multiple imaging modalities.
We report a single-step approach to producing small and stable bubbles functionalized with nanoparticles. The strategy includes the following events occurring in sequence: (i) a microfluidic generation of bubbles from a mixture of CO(2) and a minute amount of gases with low solubility in water, in an aqueous solution of a protein, a polysaccharide, and anionic nanoparticles; (ii) rapid dissolution of CO(2) leading to the shrinkage of bubbles and an increase in acidity of the medium in the vicinity of the bubbles; and (iii) co-deposition of the biopolymers and nanoparticles at the bubble-liquid interface. The proposed approach yielded microbubbles with a narrow size distribution, long-term stability, and multiple functions originating from the attachment of metal oxide, metal, or semiconductor nanoparticles onto the bubble surface. We show the potential applications of these bubbles in ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.
Park
Jai Il
JI
Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S3H6 Canada.
Jagadeesan
Dinesh
D
Williams
Ross
R
Oakden
Wendy
W
Chung
Siyon
S
Stanisz
Greg J
GJ
Kumacheva
Eugenia
E
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D045423:Microbubbles; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
D003287:Contrast Media; D002245:Carbon Dioxide