Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a functionalized microbubble designed for treating and/or preventing vascular obstructions, including microvascular obstructions. The functionalized microbubble embodiments comprise a microbubble that can be activated upon exposure to ultrasound and further that has a lipid-based shell that is attached to an exteriorly-attached therapeutically active agent, such as a thrombolytic agent. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for making and using the functionalized microbubble embodiments.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein relate generally to microbubble-assisted delivery of a therapeutic agent, such as a chemotherapeutic agent, to cells or tissue of interest, either in vitro or in vivo, that can be activated by directed ultrasound irradiation. For example, hydrophobic sonosensitizers can be incorporated in microbubble complexes to provide improved sonodynamic therapies.

Abstract: Provided herein are microbubble compositions comprising nitro-fatty acids and/or esters thereof, such as amphiphilic esters or allyl esters thereof. Also provided are methods of reducing local inflammation at a site in a patient comprising delivering the microbubbles to a site of inflammation in the patient and applying ultrasound to the microbubbles. The methods may be used to treat fibrosis or cancer.

Abstract: The presently disclosed drug-loaded liposomal conjugated to polymer microbubbles showed: i) increased tumor drug concentration; ii) reduced tumor growth; and ii) increased survival time in a mouse cancer model when exposed to concurrent high and low acoustic pressure ultrasonic pulses as compared to individual high or low acoustic pressure ultrasonic pulses. Notably, when unconjugated drug-loaded liposome were administered with free microbubbles and exposed to concurrent high and low acoustic pressure ultrasonic pulses, a superior tumor growth inhibition was also seen. Three weeks after treatments, DoxLPX+US group showed significantly better left ventricular function indices from echocardiography imaging than the free Dox group. Clinical methods using these liposomal conjugated microbubbles permit an increased therapeutic drug delivery and improved safety profile, respectively due to enhanced, preferential drug accumulation in target tumor tissue and simultaneously reduced drug delivery to non-target tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a functionalized microbubble designed for treating and/or preventing vascular obstructions, including microvascular obstructions. The functionalized microbubble embodiments comprise a microbubble that can be activated upon exposure to ultrasound and further that has a lipid-based shell that is attached to an exteriorly-attached therapeutically active agent, such as a thrombolytic agent. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for making and using the functionalized microbubble embodiments.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein relate generally to microbubble-assisted delivery of a therapeutic agent, such as a chemotherapeutic agent, to cells or tissue of interest, either in vitro or in vivo, that can be activated by directed ultrasound irradiation. For example, hydrophobic sonosensitizers can be incorporated in microbubble complexes to provide improved sonodynamic therapies.

Abstract: Various methods of performing ultrasound contrast assisted therapy are provided. One such method includes delivering a plurality of microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents to a target area and disrupting the microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents by delivering tone bursts of ultrasound to the target area. The oscillation of the microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents can be achieved by delivering ultrasound tone bursts of greater than 5 acoustic cycles with a pulse repetition frequency of between 0.01 and 20 Hz, with pressure greater than 0.3 MPa.

Abstract: A method of imaging a blood vessel includes delivering a bubble-based contrast agent within the vessel and positioning at least one ultrasound device in the vicinity of the bubble-based contrast agent within the vessel. A first burst of low-frequency ultrasound energy can be delivered to excite the bubble-based contrast agent into oscillation within the vessel, and a second burst of high-frequency ultrasound energy can be delivered at the excited bubble-based contrast agent. A return signal from the burst of high-frequency ultrasound energy can be received and processed to obtain one or more images.

Abstract: A method of imaging a blood vessel includes delivering a bubble-based contrast agent within the vessel and positioning at least one ultrasound device in the vicinity of the bubble-based contrast agent within the vessel. A first burst of low-frequency ultrasound energy can be delivered to excite the bubble-based contrast agent into oscillation within the vessel, and a second burst of high-frequency ultrasound energy can be delivered at the excited bubble-based contrast agent. A return signal from the burst of high-frequency ultrasound energy can be received and processed to obtain one or more images.

Abstract: A method of imaging a blood vessel includes delivering a bubble-based contrast agent within the vessel and positioning at least one ultrasound device in the vicinity of the bubble-based contrast agent within the vessel. A first burst of low-frequency ultrasound energy can be delivered to excite the bubble-based contrast agent into oscillation within the vessel, and a second burst of high-frequency ultrasound energy can be delivered at the excited bubble-based contrast agent. A return signal from the burst of high-frequency ultrasound energy can be received and processed to obtain one or more images.

Abstract: The present invention is related to cardiovascular contrast agents. In particular, compositions and methods for ultrasound cardiovascular contrast agents useful for molecular imaging and/or diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and disorders. For example, cardiovascular disorders comprising ischemia and/or myocardial injury may be imaged and diagnoses by the present invention.

Abstract: Various methods of performing ultrasound contrast assisted therapy are provided. One such method includes delivering a plurality of microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents to a target area and disrupting the microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents by delivering tone bursts of ultrasound to the target area. The oscillation of the microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents can be achieved by delivering ultrasound tone bursts of greater than 5 acoustic cycles with a pulse repetition frequency of between 0.01 and 20 Hz, with pressure greater than 0.3 MPa.

Abstract: This invention addresses the clinical problem of how to optimize biological cell based therapies, such as stem cell therapy. Currently, cell therapies administered by intravenous, intra-arterial, and/or direct tissue injection are limited by the lack of clinically available imaging methods to detect the in vivo fate of the administered cells. There are many efforts underway to develop imaging strategies for stem cells in vivo, including radionuclide and MRI-based approaches. However, these approaches are limited by potential safety issues (e.g. radioactive exposure of stem cells, toxicity of iron particles used for MRI) and difficulty in serial tracking due to complex instrumentation and/or the requirement for repetitive radiation exposure.

Abstract: A method of imaging a blood vessel includes delivering a bubble-based contrast agent within the vessel and positioning at least one ultrasound device in the vicinity of the bubble-based contrast agent within the vessel. A first burst of low-frequency ultrasound energy can be delivered to excite the bubble-based contrast agent into oscillation within the vessel, and a second burst of high-frequency ultrasound energy can be delivered at the excited bubble-based contrast agent. A return signal from the burst of high-frequency ultrasound energy can be received and processed to obtain one or more images.

Abstract: The disclosed technology describes compositions and methods useful for providing cell based therapy. For example, one embodiment of cell based therapy involves the regeneration of injured tissue and/or promoting wound healing. Certain embodiments provide improved therapeutic compositions using microbubbles by delivering biological progenitor cells to the injured tissues. The administration of the microbubbles is directed by acoustic radiation forces that interact with embodiments of microbubbles comprising an acoustically active gas. As such, a high efficiency of progenitor cell delivery to injured tissue is realized. One advantage of this technique over targeted delivery of pharmaceutical compounds, is that the delivered progenitors cells may be derived from the patient (i.e., personalized therapy), thereby avoiding side effects, allergic reactions, and overall problems associated with refractive drug responses.

Abstract: The disclosed technology describes compositions and methods useful for providing cell based therapy. For example, one embodiment of cell based therapy involves the regeneration of injured tissue and/or promoting wound healing. Certain embodiments provide improved therapeutic compositions using microbubbles by delivering biological progenitor cells to the injured tissues. The administration of the microbubbles is directed by acoustic radiation forces that interact with embodiments of microbubbles comprising an acoustically active gas. As such, a high efficiency of progenitor cell delivery to injured tissue is realized. One advantage of this technique over targeted delivery of pharmaceutical compounds, is that the delivered progenitors cells may be derived from the patient (i.e., personalized therapy), thereby avoiding side effects, allergic reactions, and overall problems associated with refractive drug responses.

Abstract: This invention addresses the clinical problem of how to optimize biological cell based therapies, such as stem cell therapy. Currently, cell therapies administered by intravenous, intra-arterial, and/or direct tissue injection are limited by the lack of clinically available imaging methods to detect the in vivo fate of the administered cells. There are many efforts underway to develop imaging strategies for stem cells in vivo, including radionuclide and MRI-based approaches. However, these approaches are limited by potential safety issues (e.g. radioactive exposure of stem cells, toxicity of iron particles used for MRI) and difficulty in serial tracking due to complex instrumentation and/or the requirement for repetitive radiation exposure.

Abstract: A contrast effect measuring unit 104 measures the contrast effect of an ultrasound contrast agent in a patient 110. The control unit 106 determines a desired contrast agent infusion rate, based on the contrast effect measured by the contrast effect measuring unit 104 and programmed contrast effect parameters. The control unit 106 controls an infusion unit 102 to infuse the patient 110 with the determined infusion rate. An ultrasound imaging unit 108 performs an ultrasound imaging test on the patient 110. This process is continued through the course of the ultrasound imaging test, to maintain a steady contrast effect and a steady signal enhancement level for the patient 110.