Schutt Ernest G, Klein David H, Mattrey Robert M, Riess Jean G
Research and Development Department, Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp., 6175 Lusk Blvd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2003 Jul 21;42(28):3218-35. doi: 10.1002/anie.200200550.
Ultrasonography has, until recently, lacked effective contrast-enhancing agents. Micrometer-sized gas bubbles that resonate at a diagnostic frequency are ideal reflectors for ultrasound. However, simple air bubbles, when injected into the blood stream, disappear within seconds through the combined effects of Laplace pressure, blood pressure, and exposure to ultrasound energy. Use of fluorocarbon vapor, by extending the persistence of microbubbles in vivo from seconds to minutes, propelled contrast ultrasonography into clinical practice. Imaging techniques that selectively suppress tissue, but not microbubble signal, further increase image contrast. Approved products consist of C3F8 or SF6 microbubbles, and N2 microbubbles osmotically stabilized with C6F14. These agents allow the detection and characterization of cardiovascular abnormalities and solid organ lesions, such as tumors. By providing higher quality images, they improve the accuracy and confidence of disease diagnosis, and can play a decisive role in clinical decision making. New objectives include agents that target specific cells for the molecular imaging of disease, and drug and gene delivery, including ultrasound-triggered delivery.
直到最近，超声检查一直缺乏有效的造影剂。在诊断频率下共振的微米级气泡是理想的超声反射体。然而，简单的气泡注入血流后，会因拉普拉斯压力、血压和超声能量暴露的综合作用在数秒内消失。氟碳蒸汽的使用将微泡在体内的持续时间从数秒延长至数分钟，推动了超声造影进入临床实践。选择性抑制组织而非微泡信号的成像技术进一步提高了图像对比度。获批产品包括C3F8或SF6微泡，以及用C6F14渗透稳定的N2微泡。这些造影剂可用于检测和表征心血管异常及实体器官病变，如肿瘤。通过提供更高质量的图像，它们提高了疾病诊断的准确性和可信度，并可在临床决策中发挥决定性作用。新的目标包括用于疾病分子成像的靶向特定细胞的造影剂，以及药物和基因递送，包括超声触发递送。
