Nanobubble Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging: A Review
Issued Date
2024-11-01
Resource Type
ISSN
19395116
eISSN
19390041
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85208636094
Journal Title
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology
Volume
16
Issue
6
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology Vol.16 No.6 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Wegierak D., Nittayacharn P., Cooley M.B., Berg F.M., Kosmides T., Durig D., Kolios M.C., Exner A.A. Nanobubble Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging: A Review. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology Vol.16 No.6 (2024). doi:10.1002/wnan.2007 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/102055
Title
Nanobubble Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging: A Review
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is currently used worldwide with clinical indications in cardiology and radiology, and it continues to evolve and develop through innovative technological advancements. Clinically utilized contrast agents for ultrasound consist of hydrophobic gas microbubbles stabilized with a biocompatible shell. These agents are used commonly in echocardiography, with emerging applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Microbubbles are a blood pool agent with diameters between 1 and 10 μm, which precludes their use in other extravascular applications. To expand the potential use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound beyond intravascular applications, sub-micron agents, often called nanobubbles or ultra-fine bubbles, have recently emerged as a promising tool. Combining the principles of ultrasound imaging with the unique properties of nanobubbles (high concentration and small size), recent work has established their imaging potential. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging using these agents continues to gain traction, with new studies establishing novel imaging applications. We highlight the recent achievements in nonlinear nanobubble contrast imaging, including a discussion on nanobubble formulations and their acoustic characteristics. Ultrasound imaging with nanobubbles is still in its early stages, but it has shown great potential in preclinical research and animal studies. We highlight unexplored areas of research where the capabilities of nanobubbles may offer new advantages. As technology advances, this technique may find applications in various areas of medicine, including cancer detection and treatment, cardiovascular imaging, and drug delivery.