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Microbubbles

Microbubbles are tiny gas-filled spheres that can be used in various medical applications, such as ultrasound imaging and drug delivery.
These microscopic bubbles are typically made from lipids, proteins, or polymers, and they can be engineered to target specific cells or tissues within the body.
Microbubbles have the ability to enhance the contrast of ultrasound images, allowing for improved visualization of blood flow and organ function.
Additionally, they can be loaded with therapeutic agents and used as delivery vehicles, potentially enhancing the efficacy of certain treatments.
Resaerch in this field continues to explore the versatile applications of these innovative microparticles in diagnostics and therapeutics.

Most cited protocols related to «Microbubbles»

Super-Resolution Imaging of Microbubbles

Figure 1 summarizes the key processing steps for super-resolution imaging. A 2-D phase correlation-based rigid geometric image registration method (the “imregcorr.m” function in Matlab) was used to first remove the in-plane tissue motion caused by breathing. The blinking microbubble signal (caused by microbubble movement, disruption, and dissolution) was then extracted by a subtraction of immediately adjacent frames (i.e., frame-to-frame) of the in phase quadrature (IQ) data [1 (link)], which removes the background tissue signal and constant microbubble signals. The ultrasound data before and after the frame-to-frame subtraction is shown in Figs. 2(a) and (b), respectively. The extracted blinking microbubble signal was then passed down to the rest of the processing chain.

Song P., Trzasko J.D., Manduca A., Huang R., Kadirvel R., Kallmes D.F, & Chen S. (2018). Improved Super-Resolution Ultrasound Microvessel Imaging with Spatiotemporal Nonlocal Means Filtering and Bipartite Graph-Based Microbubble Tracking. IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control, 65(2), 149-167.

Publication 2017

Figs Microbubbles Movement Muscle Rigidity Reading Frames Tissues Ultrasonics

Decafluorobutane Microbubble Formulation

Decafluorobutane microbubbles were formulated by the dissolution of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero 3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine-polyethyleneglycol-2000 (DPPE-PEG-2000), and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (chloride salt; 16:0 TAP) in a molar ratio of 65:5:30 and a total lipid concentration of 0.75 mg/mL, 1.5 mg/mL, and 3 mg/mL. The excipient liquid was comprised of propylene glycol, glycerol, and normal saline (15:5:80). After adding 1.5 mL of the resulting solution to a 2 mL vial, microbubbles were formed via agitation using a Vialmix™ shaker (Bristol-Myers-Squibb, New York, NY) for 45 seconds. The 2 mL vial containing the formed microbubbles was then immersed in a CO₂/isopropanol bath controlled to a temperature of approximately −5° C. A 25 G syringe needle containing 30 mL of room air was then inserted into the vial septum and the plunger depressed slowly until the headspace of the vial was pressurized to between 600 – 750 kPa (approximately 85–110 psi). Lipid freezing was avoided by observing the contents of the vial as well as the temperature of the CO₂/isopropanol solution periodically. The syringe needle was removed from the vial after pressurizing, leaving a pressure head on the solution.

Sheeran P.S., Luois S., Dayton P.A, & Matsunaga T.O. (2011). Formulation and Acoustic Studies of a New Phase-Shift Agent for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Ultrasound. Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids, 27(17), 10412-10420.

Publication 2011

1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-phosphatidylethanolamine Bath Chlorides Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine DPPE-PEG2000 Excipients Glycerin Head Isopropyl Alcohol Lipid A Lipids Microbubbles Molar Needles Neoplasm Metastasis Normal Saline perfluorobutane polyethylene glycol 2000 Pressure Propane Propylene Glycol Syringes

Porcine Blood Clot Formation for Sonothrombolysis

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Publication 2013

Alteplase Biological Factors BLOOD citrate phosphate dextrose Citrates Citric Acid Clotrimazole Coagulation, Blood Fibrinolytic Agents Glucose Homo sapiens Microbubbles Pigs Retractions, Clot Serum Susceptibility, Disease Therapies, Investigational Thrombus Tissue Donors Ultrasonography Veins

Hcy-Induced Kidney Injury in Mice

Twelve week old male C57BL/6J mice (The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA) were used in the present study. All protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Virginia Commonwealth University. To speed up the damaging effects of hHcys on glomeruli, all mice were uninephrectomized as described in previous studies ^{9 (link), 14 (link)}. After a 1-week recovery period from the uninephrectomy, mice were fed a normal diet or a folate-free (FF) diet (Dyets Inc, Bethlehem, PA, USA) for 1, 2, or 4 weeks to induce hHcys. In another series of experiments, ASC shRNA or a scrambled shRNA (Origene, Rockville, MD, USA) plasmid with a luciferase expression vector was co-transfected into the kidneys of mice via intrarenal artery injection with help of the ultrasound microbubble gene delivery system as we described previously ^{9 (link)}. After delivery of plasmids into the kidney, these uninephrectomized mice were maintained on a normal or a FF diet for 4 weeks. In additional experimental groups, mice were injected with Z-WEHD-FMK (WEHD, R&D system, Minneapolis, MN, USA), a caspase-1 inhibitor (1 mg/kg/day, i.p.) during the FF diet treatment. One day before sacrificing these mice, 24-hour urine samples were collected using mouse metabolic cages. After blood samples were collected, the mice were sacrificed and renal tissues were harvested for biochemical and molecular analysis as well as morphological examinations as we described previously ^{8 (link)}.

Zhang C., Boini K.M., Xia M., Abais J.M., Li X., Liu Q, & Li P.L. (2012). ACTIVATION OF NALP3 INFLAMMASOMES TURNS ON PODOCYTE INJURY AND GLOMERULAR SCLEROSIS IN HYPERHOMOCYSTEINEMIA. Hypertension, 60(1), 154-162.

Publication 2012

Arteries BLOOD Cloning Vectors Diet Folate Gene Delivery Systems Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme inhibitor Kidney Kidney Glomerulus Luciferases Males Mice, Inbred C57BL Microbubbles Mus Obstetric Delivery Physical Examination Plasmids Short Hairpin RNA Tissues Ultrasonography Urine

Formulation of Polydisperse Microbubbles

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Publication 2012

1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol 2000) 1,2-distearoyllecithin Alabaster Excipients Fluorocarbons Glycerin Lipid A Lipids Microbubbles Molar monomethoxypolyethylene glycol perfluorobutane perflutren Phosphates Phosphatidylethanolamines Propylene Glycol Saline Solution Syringes

Most recents protocols related to «Microbubbles»

Contrast-Enhanced Echocardiography in Critical Care

TTE was performed using a Philips Affiniti 50 ultrasound system (Philips Ultrasound, Bothell, WA, USA) equipped with QLAB cardiac analysis software and a 2–4 MHz sector cardiac transducer. TTE operators were university cardiologists with certification in TTE and trained in advanced echocardiography of critical care patients. Our evaluation protocol included examining the apical four-chamber image or, failing that, the subxiphoid four-chamber image if the first does not achieve sufficient quality. Echocardiographic images were recorded at a minimum rate of 30 frames per second, and stored in digital format.
For the generation of the contrast bubbles, we used the technique described by Lovering et al.¹⁰ (link) This technique requires a 20-gauge peripheral venous catheter or a central venous access and a three-way stopcock to which two 10 mL syringes are connected. One syringe contained 10 mL of saline and the other 1 mL of room air. Contrast bubbles were created by rapidly passing the solution from one syringe to another for at least 15 s, removing any residual macroscopic air prior to infusion through the patient's vein. These contrast bubbles are highly echogenic and are easily visualized in the right chambers after venous injection. The injection was considered successful if the entire right atrium was opacified with microbubble-induced contrast. Up to two successful contrast studies were performed on each patient.

Carboni Bisso I., Ruiz V., Falconi M., Baglioni M., Villanueva E., Huespe I., Di Stefano S., Las Heras M, & Sinner J. (2023). Echocardiographic detection of transpulmonary bubble transit during coronavirus-2019 disease (COVID-19). Acta Colombiana de Cuidado Intensivo.

Publication 2023

Atrium, Right Cardiologists Catheters Conditioning, Psychology Critical Care Echocardiography Heart Microbubbles Patients Reading Frames Saline Solution Syringes Transducers Ultrasonics Veins

Evaluating Intrapulmonary Shunt via Bubble Score

To obtain a qualitative evaluation of the degree of TPBT, the Bubble score tool described by Lovering et al.¹⁰ (link) was used (Table E2 of Supplementary material). This score is based on both the density and the spatial distribution of the microbubbles in the left chambers (Fig. 2). If there was no right-to-left shunt, the infused contrast bubbles appeared as a cloud of echoes in the right chambers and then gradually disappeared as the bubbles became trapped and eliminated into pulmonary microcirculation. On the other hand, if there was an intracardiac shunt at the atrial or ventricular level, the contrast bubbles rapidly filled the left chambers, in less than three cardiac cycles. If the contrast bubbles passed through the lungs in the presence of TPBT, they appeared in the left chambers after a delay of at least three cardiac cycles. The late appearance of bubbles in the left heart indicated the transpulmonary passage of contrast bubbles through IP_shunt. Therefore, the presence of IP_shunt was defined as the appearance of more than three bubbles in the left chambers after at least three cardiac cycles (Bubble score of 2 or more).Figure 2

Bubble score tool. Bubble score 0: no bubbles transit. Bubble score 1: 1–3 bubbles in left chambers. Bubble score 2: 4–12 bubbles in left chambers. Bubble score 3: >12 isolated bubbles in left chambers. Bubble score 4: >12 bubbles distributed heterogeneously in left chambers. Bubble score 5: >12 bubbles distributed homogeneously in left chambers. Late appearance of bubbles in the left heart indicates a transpulmonary passage of contrast bubbles through intrapulmonary arteriovenous shunt (IP_shunt). Therefore, the presence of IP_shunt was defined as the appearance of more than three bubbles in the left chambers after at least three cardiac cycles (Bubble score of 2 or more). Abbreviations: RV: right ventricle; LV: left ventricle; RA: right auricle; LA: left auricle.

Publication 2023

Ear Auricle ECHO protocol Fistula, Arteriovenous Heart Heart Atrium Heart Ventricle Left Ventricles Lung Microbubbles Microcirculation Ventricles, Right

Fabrication and Characterization of Plasma-Loaded Microbubbles

PMBs were fabricated by a modified emulsification process as described in previous study [23 (link)]. The mixture of Span 60, NaCl, Tween 80, PBS and polyethylene glycol (PEG-4000) was stirred at room temperature and autoclaved at 121℃ for 12 min, subsequently cooled down to 40 ℃. As Fig. 1 shows, 18 mL of the suspension was sonicated for 2 min with constant purging of plasma gas for 6 s. After standing still for 3 h and separating into 3 layers, 4 mL of the middle layer were diluted in 8 mL PBS. And the total mixture was sonicated again to obtain the PMBs.Fig. 1

Schematic illustration of the preparation and characterization of plasma loaded microbubbles (PMBs)

Then, the PMBs were evaluated by a light microscopy to determine the concentration with blood cell counting plate. The morphology characterization of PMBs was determined by a bright field microscope. The size distribution was measured at different time points for stability assessment using a multi-angle particle size analyzer (Brookhaven, USA). The key reactive species, nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) existed in PMBs suspension and release levels after ultrasound sonication were measured with a corresponding assay kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Beyotime, China), respectively. The values for the control group were obtained with PBS solution.

Zhu M., Dang J., Dong F., Zhong R., Zhang J., Pan J, & Li Y. (2023). Antimicrobial and cleaning effects of ultrasonic-mediated plasma-loaded microbubbles on Enterococcus faecalis biofilm: an in vitro study. BMC Oral Health, 23, 133.

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Publication 2023

Biological Assay Light Microscopy Microbubbles Microscopy Oxide, Nitric Peroxide, Hydrogen Plasma Polyethylene Glycols Sodium Chloride Span 60 Tween 80 Ultrasonography

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Myocardial Perfusion Analysis

Real-time MCE was performed using a Philips ultrasound diagnostic system (EPIC 7, Philips Medical Systems, Andover, MA, USA) with a linear array probe (eL18-4, 20 MHz). In brief, a commercially available contrast agent (SonoVue, Bracco, Italy) was diluted twice by adding 5 ml of normal saline, and a 24-gauge cannula was placed into the tail vein with continuous infusion (0.3–0.4 ml/min) (12 (link)). All images were optimized for each animal, including penetration depth 2 cm, near field focused on the middle of the left ventricle, gains adjusted without signal intensity of the myocardium, maximal dynamic range (60 dB), and mechanical index 0.06. When contrast agent was filled in the myocardium, left ventricular parasternal long axis images were stored for at least 20 cardiac cycles. The “flash (high energy pulse, mechanical index >1.0)” function was immediately triggered to destroy all myocardial microbubbles and then automatically switched to a low-energy real-time contrast state.
All video recordings were analyzed offline using a QLAB (version 6.0, Philips Healthcare) workstation. Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually placed on the middle segment of the anterior myocardium with an area of approximately 1.5 mm², and each frame was manually checked to avoid partial volume effects from the right and left ventricular cavities. The first frame image after “flash” was set as the background frame, and then the time-signal intensity curve was fitted to an exponential function (13 (link)):
where A is the peak intensity in the plateau phase, reflecting myocardial blood volume (MBV), β is the rising slope of signal intensity, reflecting myocardial blood flow velocity (MBFV), and A^*β equals myocardial blood flow (MBF) (14 (link)).

Liu J., Wang Y., Zhang J., Li X., Tan L., Huang H., Dai Y., Shang Y, & Shen Y. (2023). Dynamic evolution of left ventricular strain and microvascular perfusion assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography and myocardial contrast echocardiography in diabetic rats: Effect of dapagliflozin. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 10, 1109946.

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Publication 2023

Animals Blood Circulation Blood Flow Velocity Blood Volume Cannula Dental Caries Diagnosis Epistropheus Heart Left Ventricles Microbubbles Myocardium Normal Saline Reading Frames SonoVue Tail Ultrasonography Veins

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging Protocol

The contrast agent used in CEUS was SonoVue (Bracco SpA, Milan, Italy). The agents were microbubbles of the phospholipids microencapsulated sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6). The microbubbles had an average diameter of 2.5 μm and pH values of 4.5–7.5. After the SonoVue powder was thoroughly dissolved in 5 mL of normal saline, 2.4 mL of the solution was injected into the bolus through the cubital vein.
The ultrasound devices used included the Aplio500 (TOSHIBA CORPORATION, Tokyo, Japan), LOGIQ E9 GE (General Electric Company, Boston, Massachusetts, USA), EPIQ7 (Philips Electronic N.V, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), EUB-8500 (HITACHI, Tokyo, Japan), and Aixplorer (SuperSonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France). The CEUS function was available on all of these devices. A linear array probe was used (frequency 5.0 -12.0 MHz).

Xue N., Wang G., Zhang S, & Lu Y. (2023). The value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in differential diagnosis of primary testicular germ cell tumors and non-germ cell tumors over 50 years old. Frontiers in Oncology, 13, 1090823.

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Publication 2023

Contrast Media Electricity Medical Devices Microbubbles Normal Saline Phospholipids Powder SonoVue Sulfur Hexafluoride Ultrasonics Veins

Top products related to «Microbubbles»

Sonovue by Bracco

Sourced in Italy, Switzerland, United States, United Kingdom, France, China, Germany

SonoVue is a contrast agent used in ultrasound imaging. It consists of microbubbles that enhance the visibility of blood flow during the ultrasound procedure.

Multisizer 3 by Beckman Coulter

Sourced in United States, Germany

The Multisizer 3 is a high-performance particle size analyzer that uses the Coulter Principle to measure the size and count of particles in a sample. It can accurately measure particle sizes ranging from 0.4 to 1,200 microns. The Multisizer 3 provides reliable and reproducible particle size distribution data for a wide range of applications.

Matlab by MathWorks

Sourced in United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Austria, Morocco, Switzerland, Australia, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, China, France, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Malaysia, Israel, Finland, Spain

MATLAB is a high-performance programming language and numerical computing environment used for scientific and engineering calculations, data analysis, and visualization. It provides a comprehensive set of tools for solving complex mathematical and computational problems.

Dspe peg2000 by Avanti Polar Lipids

Sourced in United States, Germany

DSPE-PEG2000 is a lipid conjugate compound composed of distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with an average molecular weight of 2000 Da. It is a widely used material in the development of liposomal drug delivery systems and other biomedical applications.

Vevo 2100 by Fujifilm

Sourced in Canada, United States, Japan

The Vevo 2100 is a high-resolution, real-time in vivo imaging system designed for preclinical research. It utilizes advanced ultrasound technology to capture detailed images and data of small animal subjects.

Logiq e9 by GE Healthcare

Sourced in United States, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Austria, Germany, France, Italy

The LOGIQ E9 is an ultrasound imaging system designed for general diagnostic use. It features advanced image processing capabilities to produce high-quality images. The system provides a range of functionality to support clinical decision-making.

Acuson sequoia by Siemens

Sourced in United States, Germany, China, United Kingdom

The Acuson Sequoia is a diagnostic ultrasound system designed for a variety of clinical applications. It features advanced imaging technologies to provide high-quality images for medical professionals. The Acuson Sequoia is a versatile system that can be used in different healthcare settings.

Sonovue microbubbles by Bracco

Sourced in Italy, Switzerland

SonoVue microbubbles are a contrast agent used in diagnostic ultrasound imaging. The microbubbles are designed to enhance the visibility of blood flow and blood-containing structures during ultrasound examinations.

Sonazoid by GE Healthcare

Sourced in Norway, United Kingdom, United States

Sonazoid is a contrast agent used in diagnostic ultrasound imaging. It is a lipid-shelled microbubble suspension that enhances the visualization of blood flow and tissue perfusion in the body.

Optison by GE Healthcare

Sourced in United States, United Kingdom

Optison is a contrast agent used in diagnostic imaging procedures. It is composed of microspheres filled with perflutren, a fluorinated gas. Optison enhances the visualization of blood flow and cardiac structures during echocardiography, a type of ultrasound imaging of the heart.

What are the different types or variations of microbubbles?

Microbubbles can be made from a variety of materials, including lipids, proteins, and polymers. The composition and size of the microbubbles can be engineered to optimize their performance for specific applications. For example, lipid-based microbubbles are often used for ultrasound imaging, while polymer-based microbubbles may be better suited for drug delivery. Researchers continue to explore new formulations and materials to develop microbubbles with even more targeted and efficient capabilities.

What are some common challenges in using microbubbles for medical applications?

One of the key challenges with using microbubbles is ensuring their stability and longevity within the body. Microbubbles can be fragile and may prematurely rupture or dissolve, limiting their effectiveness. Additionally, ensuring consistent size and distribution of the microbubbles can be difficult, which can impact their performance. Researchers are constantly working to improve the engineering and manufacturing of microbubbles to overcome these hurdles and enhance their reliability and efficacy.

How can PubCompare.ai help with microbubbles research?

PubCompare.ai can be a valuable tool for researchers working with microbubbles. The platform allows you to efficietly screen protocol literature and leverage AI to pinpoint critical insights that can help you identify the most effective protocols related to microbubbles for your specific research goals. By highlighting key differences in protocol effectiveness, PubCompare.ai enables you to choose the best option for reproducibility and accuracy, ultimately enhancing the quality and impact of your microbubbles research.

What are some of the key applications of microbubbles in the medical field?

Microbubbles have a wide range of medical applications, including: 1. Ultrasound imaging: Microbubbles can enhance the contrast of ultrasound images, allowing for improved visualization of blood flow and organ function. 2. Drug delivery: Microbubbles can be loaded with therapeutic agents and used as delivery vehicles, potentially enhancing the efficacy of certain treatments. 3. Targeted therapy: Microbubbles can be engineered to target specific cells or tissues within the body, enabling more precise and effective treatments. 4. Tissue perfusion assessment: Microbubbles can be used to assess blood flow and tissue perfusion, which can be useful for diagnosing and monitoring various medical conditions.

More about "Microbubbles"

Microbubbles, also known as gas-filled microspheres or microparticles, are tiny, spherical structures that have gained significant attention in the medical and scientific community.
These microscopic bubbles, typically ranging from 1 to 10 micrometers in diameter, are engineered using a variety of materials, including lipids, proteins, and polymers.
Microbubbles have demonstrated their versatility in a wide range of medical applications, particularly in the field of diagnostic imaging and targeted drug delivery.
In diagnostic imaging, these tiny bubbles are used to enhance the contrast of ultrasound scans, allowing for improved visualization of blood flow and organ function.
Commercially available microbubble contrast agents, such as SonoVue and Sonazoid, have been widely used in clinical settings to aid in the diagnosis of various conditions.
Beyond imaging, microbubbles have also been explored as innovative drug delivery systems.
By loading these microparticles with therapeutic agents, researchers have developed novel strategies to enhance the efficacy of certain treatments.
The ability to target specific cells or tissues within the body, as well as the potential for controlled drug release, makes microbubbles a promising platform for advanced therapeutics.
In the laboratory, researchers often utilize specialized equipment and software to study and manipulate microbubbles.
Instruments like the Multisizer 3, a particle size analyzer, and the Vevo 2100 and LOGIQ E9 ultrasound imaging systems, have been employed to characterize and visualize these microparticles.
Additionally, computational tools, such as MATLAB, have been employed to analyze and model the behavior of microbubbles.
Ongoing research in this field continues to explore the diverse applications of microbubbles, including their use in targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, and tissue engineering.
As the understanding of these innovative microparticles deepens, the potential for advancements in diagnostics and therapeutics continues to grow.
With the help of AI-powered platforms like PubCompare.ai, researchers can optimize their microbubbles research by easily accessing relevant protocols and leveraging AI-driven comparisons to identify the best practices and products.