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Molecular imaging with contrast ultrasound and targeted microbubbles

  • From Bench to Imaging
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Journal of Nuclear Cardiology Aims and scope

Abstract

There is growing interest in the development of methods for imaging cellular and molecular mediators of cardiovascular diseases. Techniques for imaging molecular and cellular alterations have been explored for essentially all noninvasive cardiac imaging modalities. Molecular imaging with contrast-enhanced ultrasound relies on the detection of novel site-targeted microbubble contrast agents. These microbubbles are retained within regions of a specific disease process, thereby allowing phenotypic characterization of tissue. As microbubbles are pure intravascular tracers, the disease processes assessed must be characterized by antigens that are expressed within the vascular compartment. Accordingly, the pathologic states that have been targeted include inflammation, neoplasms, angiogenesis, and thrombus formation, all of which are mediated in part by molecular events within the vascular space. This review describes (1) different strategies that have been used to target microbubbles to regions of disease, (2) the unique challenges for imaging targeted ultrasound contrast agents, and (3) some of the early experience imaging molecular events in animal models of disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Division, University of Virginia Medical Center, Box 800158, 22908, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Jonathan R. Lindner

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  1. Jonathan R. Lindner
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Correspondence to Jonathan R. Lindner.

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Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01-DK063508), Bethesda, Md, and the American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, Baltimore, Md.

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Lindner, J.R. Molecular imaging with contrast ultrasound and targeted microbubbles. J Nucl Cardiol 11, 215–221 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclcard.2004.01.003

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclcard.2004.01.003

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