Ultrasound molecular imaging with targeted microbubble contrast agents

Conclusions  Microbubbles have shown significant promise as molecular imaging agents for ultrasound contrast imaging in the detection of intravascular targets, such as inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion injury, ischemic memory, atherosclerotic plaque detection, and angiogenic vasculature (currently all in the animal-model setting). Combining these preparations with the widespread use of ultrasound imaging equipment and the increasing popularity of circulating nontargeted contrast agents, the success of targeted ultrasound contrast material could be achieved. This research was supported in part by grants 5R01EB002185 and 1R21CA102880 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, by a grant from Philips Research, Briarcliff Manor, NY, and by a donation of laboratory equipment to A.K.’s laboratory at the University of Virginia by Mallinckrodt, Inc, Hazelwood, Mo.