Intravascular Targets for Molecular Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging
Journal article, Peer reviewed
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http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2356389Utgivelsesdato
2012Metadata
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Originalversjon
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012, 13(6):6679-6697 10.3390/ijms13066679Sammendrag
Molecular targeting of contrast agents for ultrasound imaging is emerging as a
new medical imaging modality. It combines advances in ultrasound technology with
principles of molecular imaging, thereby allowing non-invasive assessment of biological
processes in vivo. Preclinical studies have shown that microbubbles, which provide
contrast during ultrasound imaging, can be targeted to specific molecular markers. These
microbubbles accumulate in tissue with target (over) expression, thereby significantly
increasing the ultrasound signal. This concept offers safe and low-cost imaging with high
spatial resolution and sensitivity. It is therefore considered to have great potential in cancer
imaging, and early-phase clinical trials are ongoing. In this review, we summarize the
current literature on targets that have been successfully imaged in preclinical models using
molecularly targeted ultrasound contrast agents. Based on preclinical experience, we
discuss the potential clinical utility of targeted microbubbles.