Abstract
Contrast-enhanced photoacoustics and ultrasonics are complementary methods of bioimaging. In this study, a flow-focusing junction microfluidic device is used for the generation of uniform microbubbles (<5 μm) for simultaneous enhancement of photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging. Microbubbles stabilized with a mixture of a recombinant protein and a synthetic amphiphilic block copolymer are functionalized with an FDA-approved photoacoustic dye, methylene blue (MetB). These microbubbles are uniform in size and stable. We show that the ultrasound and photoacoustic signals can be independently controlled by changing the concentration of MetB during microbubble preparation and the concentration of MetB-functionalized microbubbles in the probe suspension. We also perform animal tests to demonstrate the enhancement of ultrasound and acoustic signals upon injection of MetB-functionalized microbubbles in mice. The increase in the sonographic and photoacoustic signals is visibly obvious in the images. Taken together, MetB-functionalized microbubbles represent promising dual-mode ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging contrast agents for theranostic applications.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4020-4026 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | ACS Applied Bio Materials |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 16 2019 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biomaterials
- General Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biochemistry, medical
Keywords
- contrast agent
- in vivo
- methylene blue
- microbubbles
- microfluidic
- photoacoustic
- ultrasound