Optimizing an Ultrasound Contrast Agent’s Stability Using In Vitro Attenuation Measurements

Abstract

The persistence and contrast effect of Levovist can be improved by using recommended minimum time since reconstitution and maximum concentration.

Low-intensity ultrasound adjuvant therapy: enhancement of doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity and the acoustic mechanisms involved

“…Microbubbles have a mean diameter of 3 μm, with 98% of the microbubbles being less than 10 μm. 20 The ECA was prepared for experiments according to the manufacturer's recommendation to yield a stock solution of 200 mg/ml. The resulting solution was shaken for 10 s and left to stand for 2 min before use.…”

The Sonochemical and Biological Effects of Three Clinically-Used Contrast Agents

“…5) Unfortunately, this generation of agents still suffers from reduced stability owing to gas diffusion. 6,7) The use of more robust shells, such as phospholipids, and low-solubility gases, such as fluorinated compounds (e.g., octafluoropropane, perfluorobutane and sulphur hexafluoride), has improved the lifetime of microbubbles greatly. In fact, the introduction of shells has also paved the way for thirdgeneration microbubbles to appear, in which the agents bear additional new species on their shells to achieve greater stability and/or site-specific delivery.…”