title: Synthesis of ultrasound contrast agents: characteristics and size distribution analysis (secondary publication).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to establish a method for ultrasound (US) contrast agent synthesis and to evaluate the characteristics of the synthesized US contrast agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  A US contrast agent, composed of liposome and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), was synthesized by dissolving 21 μmol 1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC, C40H80NO8P), 9 μmol cholesterol, and 1.9 μmol of dihexadecylphosphate (DCP, [CH3(CH2)15O]2P(O)OH) in chloroform. After evaporation in a warm water bath and drying for 12-24 hours, the contrast agent was synthesized using the sonication process by the addition of a buffer and SF6gas. The size distribution of the bubbles was analyzed using dynamic light scattering measurement methods. The degradation curve was evaluated by assessing the change in the number of contrast agent bubbles using light microscopy immediately, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, and 84 hours after synthesis. The echogenicity of the synthesized microbubbles was compared with commercially available microbubbles (SonoVue, Bracco).
  
  
  RESULTS
  contrast agent was synthesized successfully using an evaporation-drying-sonication method. Most bubbles had a mean diameter of 154.2 nm and showed marked degradation 24 hours after synthesis. Although no statistically significant differences were observed between SonoVue and the synthesized contrast agent, a difference in echogenicity was observed between the synthesized contrast agent and saline (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We successfully synthesized a US contrast agent using an evaporation-dryingsonication method. These results may help future research in the fields of anticancer drug delivery, gene delivery, targeted molecular imaging, and targeted therapy.
authors.affiliation: Program in Nano Science and Technology, Department of Transdisciplinary Studies, Seoul National University Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Hak Jong
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0858-7873
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Bioscience, CHA University, Pocheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Jong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0809-8319
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Program in Nano Science and Technology, Department of Transdisciplinary Studies, Seoul National University Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Il
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9957-4896
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Yoon
keywords: Contrast media; Drug delivery systems; Radiotherapy, image guided; Synthesis; Ultrasound