title: Next generation ultrasound platforms for theranostics.
abstract: Microbubbles are a well-established contrast agent which improves diagnostic ultrasound imaging. During the last decade research has focused on expanding their use to include molecular imaging, targeted therapy and imaging modalities other than ultrasound. However, bioadhesion of targeted microbubbles under physiological flow conditions is still difficult to achieve, the main challenge being connected to the poor stability of lipid microbubbles in the body's circulation system. In this article, we investigate the use of polymeric microbubbles based on a poly (vinyl alcohol) shell as an alternative to lipid microbubbles. In particular, we report on the development of microbubble shell modification, using mild reaction conditions, with the aim of designing a multifunctional platform to enable diagnosis and therapy. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and a near infrared fluorescent probe, indocyanine green, are coupled to the bubbles surface in order to support magnetic resonance and fluorescence imaging. Furthermore, anchoring cyclic arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide, and cyclodextrin molecules, allows targeting and drug loading, respectively. Last but not least, shell topography is provided by atomic force microscopy. These applications and features, together with the high echogenicity of poly (vinyl alcohol) microbubbles, may offer a more stable alternative to lipid microbubbles for the development of a multimodal theranostic platform.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: letizia.oddo@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oddo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: barbara.cerroni@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cerroni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy; Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Roma Sapienza, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: fabiodomenici@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Domenici
authors.affiliation: INAIL, Settore Ricerca, Certificazione e Verifica, DITSPIA, Via Fontana Candida 1, 00040 Monteporzio Catone, Italy. Electronic address: a.bedini@inail.it.
authors.forename: Angelico
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bedini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Roma Sapienza, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: federico.bordi@roma1.infn.it.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bordi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: ester.chiessi@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiessi
authors.affiliation: MagForce AG, Max-Planck-Str. 3, 12489 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: sgerbes@magforce.com.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerbes
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: paradossi@stc.uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Gaio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paradossi
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014465:Ultrasonics; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol
keywords: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM); Contrast agent; Cyclodextrins; Drug delivery; Indocyanine green (ICG); Microbubbles; Specific targeting; Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs); Surface conjugation