Production of a Molecular Polymer Ultrasound Contrast Agents with Gd-DTPA and in Vitro Experiment

  • Dr Meng Ao, Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
  • Prof Zhigang Wang, Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
  • Prof Haitao Ran, Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
  • Dr Dajing Guo, Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
  • Dr Jinhong Yu, Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
  • Dr Ao Li, Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China

    • Objective: To prepare a kind of multi-functional ultrasound contrast agent, to study its characteristic and in vitro enhancement.
    Methods: A kind of Poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microbubbles with gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) were prepared by double emulsion solvent-evaporation, and its appearance, mean diameter and potential were detected, and the Gd-DTPA loading ability of the microbubble was detected.
    Results: This method could produce uniformly Gd-PLGA ultrasound contrast agent a tight size distribution and smooth surface, which were determined under the light microscope. It was an effective ultrasound contrast agent in vitro.The encapsulation eficiency was 64.37± 2.5%.
    Conclusions: Gd-PLGA microbubbles can enhance ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in vitro, which may become a new ultrasound contrast agent and a vehicle for encapsulating with genes or drugs.
    Keywords: ultrasound contrast agent; Polyglycolic acid; Gd-DTPA