title: Evaluation of microbubble contrast agents for dynamic imaging with x-ray phase contrast.
abstract: X-rays are commonly used as a means to image the inside of objects opaque to visible light, as their short wavelength allows penetration through matter and the formation of high spatial resolution images. This physical effect has found particular importance in medicine where x-ray based imaging is routinely used as a diagnostic tool. Increasingly, however, imaging modalities that provide functional as well as morphological information are required. In this study the potential to use x-ray phase based imaging as a functional modality through the use of microbubbles that can be targeted to specific biological processes is explored. We show that the concentration of a microbubble suspension can be monitored quantitatively whilst in flow using x-ray phase contrast imaging. This could provide the basis for a dynamic imaging technique that combines the tissue penetration, spatial resolution, and high contrast of x-ray phase based imaging with the functional information offered by targeted imaging modalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Malet Place Engineering Building, Malet Place, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Millard
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Malet Place Engineering Building, Malet Place, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endrizzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Malet Place Engineering Building, Malet Place, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Everdell
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste Italy. [2] Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-Sezione di Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rigon
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste Italy. [2] Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-Sezione di Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arfelli
authors.affiliation: Sincrotrone Trieste SCpA, S. S. 14km 163.5, 34012 Basovizza (TS), Italy.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Menk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Old Road Campus Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stride
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Malet Place Engineering Building, Malet Place, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olivo
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D045423:Microbubbles; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media