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Pellow C, Jafari Sojahrood A, Zhao X, Kolios MC, Exner AA, Goertz DE. Synchronous Intravital Imaging and Cavitation Monitoring of Antivascular Focused Ultrasound in Tumor Microvasculature Using Monodisperse Low Boiling Point Nanodroplets. ACS NANO 2024; 18:410-427. [PMID: 38147452 PMCID: PMC10786165 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c07711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Focused ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles can induce blood flow shutdown and ischemic necrosis at higher pressures in an approach termed antivascular ultrasound. Combined with conventional therapies of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy, this approach has demonstrated tumor growth inhibition and profound synergistic antitumor effects. However, the lower cavitation threshold of microbubbles can potentially yield off-target damage that the polydispersity of clinical agent may further exacerbate. Here we investigate the use of a monodisperse nanodroplet formulation for achieving antivascular effects in tumors. We first develop stable low boiling point monodisperse lipid nanodroplets and examine them as an alternative agent to mediate antivascular ultrasound. With synchronous intravital imaging and ultrasound monitoring of focused ultrasound-stimulated nanodroplets in tumor microvasculature, we show that nanodroplets can trigger blood flow shutdown and do so with a sharper pressure threshold and with fewer additional events than conventionally used microbubbles. We further leverage the smaller size and prolonged pharmacokinetic profile of nanodroplets to allow for potential passive accumulation in tumor tissue prior to antivascular ultrasound, which may be a means by which to promote selective tumor targeting. We find that vascular shutdown is accompanied by inertial cavitation and complex-order sub- and ultraharmonic acoustic signatures, presenting an opportunity for effective feedback control of antivascular ultrasound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Pellow
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Amin Jafari Sojahrood
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto M5B 2K3, Canada
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology (iBEST), a partnership between St. Michael's Hospital, a site of Unity Health Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhao
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Michael C Kolios
- Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto M5B 2K3, Canada
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology (iBEST), a partnership between St. Michael's Hospital, a site of Unity Health Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto M5B 1T8, Canada
| | - Agata A Exner
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - David E Goertz
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada
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Zhang G, Liao C, Hu JR, Hu HM, Lei YM, Harput S, Ye HR. Nanodroplet-Based Super-Resolution Ultrasound Localization Microscopy. ACS Sens 2023; 8:3294-3306. [PMID: 37607403 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c00418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, super-resolution ultrasound localization microscopy (SR-ULM) has revolutionized ultrasound imaging with its capability to resolve the microvascular structures below the ultrasound diffraction limit. The introduction of this imaging technique enables the visualization, quantification, and characterization of tissue microvasculature. The early implementations of SR-ULM utilize microbubbles (MBs) that require a long image acquisition time due to the requirement of capturing sparsely isolated microbubble signals. The next-generation SR-ULM employs nanodroplets that have the potential to significantly reduce the image acquisition time without sacrificing the resolution. This review discusses various nanodroplet-based ultrasound localization microscopy techniques and their corresponding imaging mechanisms. A summary is given on the preclinical applications of SR-ULM with nanodroplets, and the challenges in the clinical translation of nanodroplet-based SR-ULM are presented while discussing the future perspectives. In conclusion, ultrasound localization microscopy is a promising microvasculature imaging technology that can provide new diagnostic and prognostic information for a wide range of pathologies, such as cancer, heart conditions, and autoimmune diseases, and enable personalized treatment monitoring at a microlevel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Zhang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430080, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm U1273, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, CNRS, Paris 75015, France
| | - Chen Liao
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430080, People's Republic of China
- Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Rui Hu
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Man Hu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Meng Lei
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430080, People's Republic of China
| | - Sevan Harput
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, London South Bank University, London SE1 0AA, U.K
| | - Hua-Rong Ye
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430080, People's Republic of China
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Huang J, Wang H, Huang L, Zhou Y. Phospholipid-mimicking block, graft, and block-graft copolymers for phase-transition microbubbles as ultrasound contrast agents. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:968835. [PMCID: PMC9606805 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.968835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Lipid and polymer microbubbles (MBs) are widely used as ultrasound contrast agents in clinical diagnosis, and possess great potential in ultrasound-mediated therapy due to their drug loading function. However, overcoming the limitations of stability and echo enhancement of MBs are still a considerable challenge.Methods: A series novel block, graft and block-graft copolymers was proposed and prepared in this work, and these copolymers were used as shells to encapsulate perfluoropentane as ultrasound contrast agents. First, block, graft and block-graft copolymers with different topological structures were prepared. Then, these copolymers were prepared into block copolymer phase-transition MBs, graft copolymer phase-transition MBs, and block-graft copolymer phase-transition MBs, respectively. Finally, the dexamethasone was used for drug-loaded phase-transition microbubbles model to explore the potential of theranostic microbubbles.Results: Finally, these three resulting copolymer MBs with average size of 4–5 μm exhibited well enhancement of ultrasound imaging under the influence of different frequencies and mechanical index, and they exhibited a longer contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging time and higher resistance to mechanical index compared with SonoVue in vitro and in vivo. In vitro drug release results also showed that these copolymer MBs could encapsulate dexamethasone drugs, and the drug release could be enhanced by ultrasonic triggering. These copolymer MBs were therapeutic MBs for targeted triggering drug release.Conclusion: Therefore, the feasibility of block, graft, and block-graft copolymers as ultrasonic contrast agents was verified, and their ultrasonic enhancement performance in vitro and in vivo was compared. The ultrasound contrast agents developed in this work have excellent development potential in comprehensive diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Huang
- Department of Ultrasound, Laboratory of Ultrasound Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Laboratory of Ultrasound Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Hong Wang,
| | - Lei Huang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuqing Zhou
- Department of Ultrasound, Laboratory of Ultrasound Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Counil C, Abenojar E, Perera R, Exner AA. Extrusion: A New Method for Rapid Formulation of High-Yield, Monodisperse Nanobubbles. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2200810. [PMID: 35587613 PMCID: PMC9233137 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202200810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Shell-stabilized gas microbubbles (MB) and nanobubbles (NB) are frequently used for biomedical ultrasound imaging and therapeutic applications. While it is widely recognized that monodisperse bubbles can be more effective in these applications, the efficient formulation of uniform bubbles at high concentrations is difficult to achieve. Here, it is demonstrated that a standard mini-extruder setup, commonly used to make vesicles or liposomes, can be used to quickly and efficiently generate monodisperse NBs with high yield. In this highly reproducible technique, the NBs obtained have an average diameter of 0.16 ± 0.05 µm and concentration of 6.2 ± 1.8 × 1010 NBs mL-1 compared to 0.32 ± 0.1 µm and 3.2 ± 0.7 × 1011 mL-1 for NBs made using mechanical agitation. Parameters affecting the extrusion and NB generation process including the temperature, concentration of the lipid solution, and the number of passages through the extruder are also examined. Moreover, it is demonstrated that extruded NBs show a strong acoustic response in vitro and a strong and persistent US signal enhancement under nonlinear contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging in mice. The extrusion process is a new, efficient, and scalable technique that can be used to easily produce high yield smaller monodispersed nanobubbles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Counil
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106-7207, USA
| | - Eric Abenojar
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106-7207, USA
| | - Reshani Perera
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106-7207, USA
| | - Agata A Exner
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106-7207, USA
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Burgess MT, Aliabouzar M, Aguilar C, Fabiilli ML, Ketterling JA. Slow-Flow Ultrasound Localization Microscopy Using Recondensation of Perfluoropentane Nanodroplets. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2022; 48:743-759. [PMID: 35125244 PMCID: PMC8983467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) is an emerging, super-resolution imaging technique for detailed mapping of the microvascular structure and flow velocity via subwavelength localization and tracking of microbubbles. Because microbubbles rely on blood flow for movement throughout the vascular space, acquisition times can be long in the smallest, low-flow microvessels. In addition, detection of microbubbles in low-flow regions can be difficult because of minimal separation of microbubble signal from tissue. Nanoscale, phase-change contrast agents (PCCAs) have emerged as a switchable, intermittent or persisting contrast agent for ULM via acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV). Here, the focus is on characterizing the spatiotemporal contrast properties of less volatile perfluoropentane (PFP) PCCAs. The results indicate that at physiological temperature, nanoscale PFP PCCAs with diameters less than 100 nm disappear within microseconds after ADV with high-frequency ultrasound (16 MHz, 5- to 6-MPa peak negative pressure) and that nanoscale PFP PCCAs have an inherent deactivation mechanism via immediate recondensation after ADV. This "blinking" on-and-off contrast signal allowed separation of flow in an in vitro flow phantom, regardless of flow conditions, although with a need for some replenishment at very low flow conditions to maintain count rate. This blinking behavior allows for rapid spatial mapping in areas of low or no flow with ULM, but limits velocity tracking because there is no stable bubble formation with nanoscale PFP PCCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark T Burgess
- Lizzi Center for Biomedical Engineering, Riverside Research, New York, New York, USA.
| | - Mitra Aliabouzar
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Christian Aguilar
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mario L Fabiilli
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Ketterling
- Lizzi Center for Biomedical Engineering, Riverside Research, New York, New York, USA
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Mitcham TM, Nevozhay D, Chen Y, Nguyen LD, Pinton GF, Lai SY, Sokolov KV, Bouchard RR. Effect of Perfluorocarbon Composition on Activation of Phase-Changing Ultrasound Contrast Agents. Med Phys 2022; 49:2212-2219. [PMID: 35195908 PMCID: PMC9041204 DOI: 10.1002/mp.15564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While microbubble contrast agents (MCAs) are commonly used in ultrasound (US), they are inherently limited to vascular targets due to their size. Alternatively, phase‐changing nanodroplet contrast agents (PNCAs) can be delivered as nanoscale agents (i.e., small enough to extravasate), but when exposed to a US field of sufficient mechanical index (MI), they convert to MCAs, which can be visualized with high contrast using nonlinear US. Purpose To investigate the effect of perfluorocarbon (PFC) core composition and presence of cholesterol in particle coatings on stability and image contrast generated from acoustic activation of PNCAs using high‐frequency US suitable for clinical imaging. Methods PNCAs with varied core compositions (i.e., mixtures of perfluoropentane [C5] and/or perfluorohexane [C6]) and two coating formulations (i.e., with and without cholesterol) were characterized and investigated for thermal/temporal stability and postactivation, nonlinear US contrast in phantom and in vivo environments. Through hydrophone measurements and nonlinear numerical modeling, MI was estimated for pulse sequences used for PNCA activation. Results All PNCA compositions were characterized to have similar diameters (249–267 nm) and polydispersity (0.151–0.185) following fabrication. While PNCAs with majority C5 core composition showed higher levels of spontaneous signal (i.e., not due to US activation) in phantoms than C6‐majority PNCAs, all compositions were stable during imaging experiments. When activating PNCAs with a 12.3‐MHz US pulse (MI = 1.1), C6‐core particles with cholesterol‐free coatings (i.e., CF‐C6‐100 particles) generated a median contrast of 3.1, which was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than other formulations. Further, CF‐C6‐100 particles were activated in a murine model, generating US contrast ≥3.4. Conclusion C6‐core PNCAs can provide high‐contrast US imaging with minimal nonspecific activation in phantom and in vivo environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor M Mitcham
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dmitry Nevozhay
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yunyun Chen
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Linh D Nguyen
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gianmarco F Pinton
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stephen Y Lai
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Konstantin V Sokolov
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Richard R Bouchard
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
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Durham PG, Dayton PA. Applications of sub-micron low-boiling point phase change contrast agents for ultrasound imaging and therapy. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2021.101498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Harnessing ultrasound-stimulated phase change contrast agents to improve antibiotic efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Biofilm 2021; 3:100049. [PMID: 34124645 PMCID: PMC8173270 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2021.100049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms, often associated with chronic infections, respond poorly to antibiotic therapy and frequently require surgical intervention. Biofilms harbor persister cells, metabolically indolent cells, which are tolerant to most conventional antibiotics. In addition, the biofilm matrix can act as a physical barrier, impeding diffusion of antibiotics. Novel therapeutic approaches frequently improve biofilm killing, but usually fail to achieve eradication. Failure to eradicate the biofilm leads to chronic and relapsing infection, is associated with major financial healthcare costs and significant morbidity and mortality. We address this problem with a two-pronged strategy using 1) antibiotics that target persister cells and 2) ultrasound-stimulated phase-change contrast agents (US-PCCA), which improve antibiotic penetration. We previously demonstrated that rhamnolipids, produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, could induce aminoglycoside uptake in gram-positive organisms, leading to persister cell death. We have also shown that US-PCCA can transiently disrupt biological barriers to improve penetration of therapeutic macromolecules. We hypothesized that combining antibiotics which target persister cells with US-PCCA to improve drug penetration could improve treatment of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) biofilms. Aminoglycosides alone or in combination with US-PCCA displayed limited efficacy against MRSA biofilms. In contrast, the anti-persister combination of rhamnolipids and aminoglycosides combined with US-PCCA dramatically improved biofilm killing. This novel treatment strategy has the potential for rapid clinical translation as the PCCA formulation is a variant of FDA-approved ultrasound contrast agents that are already in clinical practice and the low-pressure ultrasound settings used in our study can be achieved with existing ultrasound hardware at pressures below the FDA set limits for diagnostic imaging.
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Qin D, Zhang L, Zhu H, Chen J, Wu D, Bouakaz A, Wan M, Feng Y. A Highly Efficient One-for-All Nanodroplet for Ultrasound Imaging-Guided and Cavitation-Enhanced Photothermal Therapy. Int J Nanomedicine 2021; 16:3105-3119. [PMID: 33967577 PMCID: PMC8096805 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s301734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Photothermal therapy (PTT) has attracted considerable attention for cancer treatment as it is highly controllable and minimally invasive. Various multifunctional nanosystems have been fabricated in an "all-in-one" form to guide and enhance PTT by integrating imaging and therapeutic functions. However, the complex fabrication of nanosystems and their high cost limit its clinical translation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Herein, a high efficient "one-for-all" nanodroplet with a simple composition but owning multiple capabilities was developed to achieve ultrasound (US) imaging-guided and cavitation-enhanced PTT. Perfluoropentane (PFP) nanodroplet with a polypyrrole (PPy) shell (PFP@PPy nanodroplet) was synthesized via ultrasonic emulsification and in situ oxidative polymerization. After characterization of the morphology, its photothermal effect, phase transition performance, as well as its capabilities of enhancing US imaging and acoustic cavitation were examined. Moreover, the antitumor efficacy of the combined therapy with PTT and acoustic cavitation via the PFP@PPy nanodroplets was studied both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS The nanodroplets exhibited good stability, high biocompatibility, broad optical absorption over the visible and near-infrared (NIR) range, excellent photothermal conversion with an efficiency of 60.1% and activatable liquid-gas phase transition performance. Upon NIR laser and US irradiation, the phase transition of PFP cores into microbubbles significantly enhanced US imaging and acoustic cavitation both in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, the acoustic cavitation enhanced significantly the antitumor efficacy of PTT as compared to PTT alone thanks to the cavitation-mediated cell destruction, which demonstrated a substantial increase in cell detachment, 81.1% cell death in vitro and 99.5% tumor inhibition in vivo. CONCLUSION The PFP@PPy nanodroplet as a "one-for-all" theranostic agent achieved highly efficient US imaging-guided and cavitation-enhanced cancer therapy, and has considerable potential to provide cancer theranostics in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dui Qin
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Bioinformatics, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongrui Zhu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
| | - Junjie Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
| | - Daocheng Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ayache Bouakaz
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, F-37032, France
| | - Mingxi Wan
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Feng
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
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Thomas AN, Song KH, Upadhyay A, Papadopoulou V, Ramirez D, Benninger RKP, Lowerison M, Song P, Murray TW, Borden MA. Contrast-Enhanced Sonography with Biomimetic Lung Surfactant Nanodrops. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:2386-2396. [PMID: 33566623 PMCID: PMC8988746 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c03349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Nanodrops comprising a perfluorocarbon liquid core can be acoustically vaporized into echogenic microbubbles for ultrasound imaging. Packaging the microbubble in its condensed liquid state provides some advantages, including in situ activation of the acoustic signal, longer circulation persistence, and the advent of expanded diagnostic and therapeutic applications in pathologies which exhibit compromised vasculature. One obstacle to clinical translation is the inability of the limited surfactant present on the nanodrop to encapsulate the greatly expanded microbubble interface, resulting in ephemeral microbubbles with limited utility. In this study, we examine a biomimetic approach to stabilize an expanding gas surface by employing the lung surfactant replacement, beractant. Lung surfactant contains a suite of lipids and proteins that provide efficient shuttling of material from bilayer folds to the monolayer surface. We hypothesized that beractant would improve stability of acoustically vaporized microbubbles. To test this hypothesis, we characterized beractant surface dilation mechanics and revealed a novel biophysical phenomenon of rapid interfacial melting, spreading, and resolidification. We then harnessed this unique functionality to increase the stability and echogenicity of microbubbles produced after acoustic droplet vaporization for in vivo ultrasound imaging. Such biomimetic lung surfactant-stabilized nanodrops may be useful for applications in ultrasound imaging and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec N Thomas
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, Colorado, United States
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 7DQ, U.K
| | - Kang-Ho Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, Colorado, United States
| | - Awaneesh Upadhyay
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, Colorado, United States
| | - Virginie Papadopoulou
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill 27514, North Carolina, United States
| | - David Ramirez
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Boulder 80045, Colorado, United States
| | - Richard K P Benninger
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Boulder 80045, Colorado, United States
| | - Matthew Lowerison
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 61801, Colorado, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 61801, Colorado, United States
| | - Pengfei Song
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 61801, Colorado, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 61801, Colorado, United States
| | - Todd W Murray
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, Colorado, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, Colorado, United States
| | - Mark A Borden
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, Colorado, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, Colorado, United States
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11
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DeRuiter RM, Markley EN, Rojas JD, Pinton GF, Dayton PA. Transient acoustic vaporization signatures unique to low boiling point phase change contrast agents enable super-resolution ultrasound imaging without spatiotemporal filtering. AIP ADVANCES 2020; 10:105124. [PMID: 33094029 PMCID: PMC7575328 DOI: 10.1063/5.0029207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The unique activation signal of phase-change contrast agents (PCCAs or droplets) can be separated from the tissue signal and localized to generate super-resolution (SR) ultrasound (US) images. Lipid-shelled, perfluorocarbon PCCAs can be stochastically vaporized (activated) by a plane wave US transmission thereby enabling them to be used as separable targets for ultrasound localization microscopy. The unique signature of droplet vaporization imaging and the transient inherent nature of this signature increases signal contrast and therefore localization confidence, while the poor resolution of the low-frequency vaporization signal is overcome by the super-resolution result. Furthermore, our proposed PCCA SR technique does not require the use of user-dependent and flow-dependent spatio-temporal filtering via singular-value decomposition. Rather, matched filters selected by Fourier-domain analysis are able to identify and localize PCCA activations. Droplet SR was demonstrated in a crossed-microtube water phantom by localizing the activation signals of octafluoropropane nanodroplets (OFP, C3F8, -37 °C boiling point) to resolve 100 µm diameter fluorinated ethylene propylene tubes, which are ordinarily 35% smaller than the native diffraction-limited resolution of the imaging system utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - P. A. Dayton
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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Synthesis of nanobubbles for improved ultrasound tumor-imaging applications. 3 Biotech 2020; 10:12. [PMID: 31875165 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-019-1992-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The present work showed the preparation of highly stable spherical nanobubbles using 3 mg/ml of soy lipid and 1% of Tween 80 as surfactant. The prepared nanobubbles were characterized using TEM and zeta-potential analyzer, which confirmed the formation of spherical nanobubbles with negative surface charge and high structural stability. The MTT cell viability studies confirmed that the fabricated nanobubbles were safe and nontoxic. Furthermore, the ultrasound imaging studies were performed to assess the improved imaging facility of the prepared nanobubbles. The in vitro studies exhibited that both the nanobubbles and SonoVue had a similar image enhancement capability. The in vivo studies revealed that nanobubbles exhibited an enhanced tumor intensity, which was stronger compared to that of Sono Vue. Therefore, the prepared nanobubbles could have potential for effective tumor imaging.
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de Leon A, Perera R, Hernandez C, Cooley M, Jung O, Jeganathan S, Abenojar E, Fishbein G, Sojahrood AJ, Emerson CC, Stewart PL, Kolios MC, Exner AA. Contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging by nature-inspired ultrastable echogenic nanobubbles. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:15647-15658. [PMID: 31408083 PMCID: PMC6716144 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr04828f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Advancement of ultrasound molecular imaging applications requires not only a reduction in size of the ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) but also a significant improvement in the in vivo stability of the shell-stabilized gas bubble. The transition from first generation to second generation UCAs was marked by an advancement in stability as air was replaced by a hydrophobic gas, such as perfluoropropane and sulfur hexafluoride. Further improvement can be realized by focusing on how well the UCAs shell can retain the encapsulated gas under extreme mechanical deformations. Here we report the next generation of UCAs for which we engineered the shell structure to impart much better stability under repeated prolonged oscillation due to ultrasound, and large changes in shear and turbulence as it circulates within the body. By adapting an architecture with two layers of contrasting elastic properties similar to bacterial cell envelopes, our ultrastable nanobubbles (NBs) withstand continuous in vitro exposure to ultrasound with minimal signal decay and have a significant delay on the onset of in vivo signal decay in kidney, liver, and tumor. Development of ultrastable NBs can potentially expand the role of ultrasound in molecular imaging, theranostics, and drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Al de Leon
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Reshani Perera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Christopher Hernandez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Michaela Cooley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Olive Jung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Selva Jeganathan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Eric Abenojar
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Grace Fishbein
- Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Corey C Emerson
- Department of Pharmacology and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Phoebe L Stewart
- Department of Pharmacology and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | | | - Agata A Exner
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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Lea-Banks H, O'Reilly MA, Hynynen K. Ultrasound-responsive droplets for therapy: A review. J Control Release 2019; 293:144-154. [PMID: 30503398 PMCID: PMC6459400 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The last two decades have seen the development of acoustically activated droplets, also known as phase-change emulsions, from a diagnostic tool to a therapeutic agent. Through bubble effects and triggered drug release, these superheated agents have found potential applications from oncology to neuromodulation. The aim of this review is to summarise the key developments in therapeutic droplet design and use, to discuss the current challenges slowing clinical translation, and to highlight the new frontiers progressing towards clinical implementation. The literature is summarised by addressing the droplet design criteria and by carrying out a multiparametric study of a range of droplet formulations and their associated vaporisation thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Lea-Banks
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - M A O'Reilly
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - K Hynynen
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Rojas JD, Dayton PA. In Vivo Molecular Imaging Using Low-Boiling-Point Phase-Change Contrast Agents: A Proof of Concept Study. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2019; 45:177-191. [PMID: 30318123 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Sub-micron phase-change contrast agents (PCCAs) have been proposed as a tool for ultrasound molecular imaging based on their potential to extravasate and target extravascular markers and also because of the potential to image these contrast agents with a high contrast-to-tissue ratio. We compare in vivo ultrasound molecular imaging with targeted low-boiling-point PCCAs and targeted microbubble contrast agents. Both agents were targeted to the intravascular (endothelial) integrin αvß3via a cyclic RGD peptide (cyclo-Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Tyr-Cys) mechanism and imaged in vivo in a rodent fibrosarcoma model, which exhibits angiogenic microvasculature. Signal intensity was measured using two different techniques, conventional contrast-specific imaging (amplitude/phase modulation) and a droplet vaporization imaging sequence, which detects the unique signature of vaporizing PCCAs. Data indicate that PCCA-specific imaging is more sensitive to small numbers of bound agents than conventional contrast imaging. However, data also revealed that contrast from targeted microbubbles was greater than that provided by PCCAs. Both control and targeted PCCAs were observed to be retained in tissue post-vaporization, which was expected for targeted agents but not expected for control agents. The exact mechanism underlying this observation remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan D Rojas
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Paul A Dayton
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
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Fan CH, Lin YT, Ho YJ, Yeh CK. Spatial-Temporal Cellular Bioeffects from Acoustic Droplet Vaporization. Theranostics 2018; 8:5731-5743. [PMID: 30555577 PMCID: PMC6276289 DOI: 10.7150/thno.28782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the major challenges in developing acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV)-associated therapy as an effective and safe strategy is the precise determination of the spatial cellular bioeffects after ADV (cell death or cell membrane permeabilization). In this study, we combined high-speed camera imaging and live-cell microscopic imaging to observe the transient dynamics of droplets during ADV and to evaluate the mechanical force on cells. Methods: C6 glioma cells were co-incubated with DiI-labeled droplets (radius: 1.5, 2.25, and 3.0 μm). We used an acousto-optical system for high-speed bright-field (500 kfps) and fluorescence (40 kfps) microscopic imaging in order to visualize the dynamics of droplets under ultrasound excitation (frequency = 5 MHz, pressure = 5-8 MPa, cycle number = 3, pulse number = 1). Live-cell microscopic imaging was used to monitor the cell morphology, cell membrane permeabilization, and cell viability by membrane-anchored Lyn-yellow fluorescence protein, propidium Iodide staining, and calcein blue AM staining, respectively. Results: We discovered that the spatial distribution of ADV-induced bioeffects could be mapped to the physical dynamics of droplet vaporization. For droplets with a 1.5 μm radius, the distance threshold for ADV-induced cell death (5.5±1.9 μm) and reversible membrane permeabilization (11.3±3.5 μm) was well correlated with the distance of ADV-bubble pressing downward to the floor (5.7±1.3 μm) and maximum distance of droplet expansion (11.5±2.6 μm), respectively. These distances were enlarged by increasing the droplet sizes and insonation acoustic pressures. The live-cell imaging results show that ADV-bubbles can directly disrupt the cell membrane layer and induce intensive intracellular substance leakage. Further, the droplets shed the payload onto nearby cells during ADV, suggesting ADV could directly induce adjacent cell death by physical force and enhancement of chemotherapy to distant cells. Conclusion: This study provide new insights into the ADV-mediated physicochemical synergic effect for medical applications.
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