Molecular imaging agents for ultrasound

Molecular and Cellular Imaging with Ultrasound Contrast Agents

Introduction Today, ultrasound imaging generally plays a minor role in molecular imaging. Most of the clinical activities are focused on PET and SPECT, and most of preclinical research is expanded to the areas of optical imaging and MRI. However, with proper contrast agents designed for molecular imaging, ultrasound can play an essential role both in research and clinical applications. Historic...

Molecular ultrasound imaging using microbubble contrast agents Paul

A Targeting Microbubble for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging

RATIONALE Microbubbles conjugated with targeting ligands are used as contrast agents for ultrasound molecular imaging. However, they often contain immunogenic (strept)avidin, which impedes application in humans. Although targeting bubbles not employing the biotin-(strept)avidin conjugation chemistry have been explored, only a few reached the stage of ultrasound imaging in vivo, none were report...

Ultrasound molecular imaging of atherosclerosis.

Recent advances in our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of atherosclerosis have created the need for better non-invasive imaging of vascular phenotype. Ultrasound is widely available, inexpensive, and well suited for high-throughput screening in populations that are at risk for atherosclerosis. Novel ultrasonic approaches for the diagnosis of vascular changes in atherosclerosi...

Nanoparticulate Contrast Agents for Multimodality Molecular Imaging.

Molecular imaging is rapidly developing as a powerful tool in research and medical diagnostic. By integrating complementary signal reporters into a single nanoparticulate contrast agent, multimodal molecular imaging can be performed as scalable images with high sensitivity, resolution and specificity. In this review, multifunctional nanoparticles (MFNPs) are classified into four types: conjugat...