Assessment of the safety and efficacy of microbubble exposure in diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound
Lead Research Organisation:
Institute of Cancer Research
Department Name: Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging
Abstract
Gas microbubbles coated with a surfactant or polymer shell have become well established as the most effective form of contrast agent for diagnostic ultrasound imaging. More recently, the use of coated microbubbles in therapeutic applications such as targeted drug delivery has also become an active area of research. However, their behaviour in vivo is by no means fully understood and the aim of this project is to investigate the hitherto neglected problem of microbubbles excited by an ultrasound field within the confines of narrow blood vessels. The work will involve a combination of theoretical modelling and both in vitro and in vivo experiments which will enable a more rigorous assessment of the safety of ultrasound contrast agents and the development of more effective ultrasound therapies.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Gail Ter Haar (Principal Investigator) | |
| Ian Rivens (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Ahmadi F
(2012)
Bio-effects and safety of low-intensity, low-frequency ultrasonic exposure.
in Progress in biophysics and molecular biology
Awad NS
(2021)
Ultrasound-Responsive Nanocarriers in Cancer Treatment: A Review.
in ACS pharmacology & translational science
Bawiec CR
(2021)
Inertial Cavitation Behaviors Induced by Nonlinear Focused Ultrasound Pulses.
in IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control
Brüningk SC
(2019)
Focused Ultrasound-Mediated Hyperthermia in Vitro: An Experimental Arrangement for Treating Cells under Tissue-Mimicking Conditions.
in Ultrasound in medicine & biology
Brüningk SC
(2020)
3D tumour spheroids for the prediction of the effects of radiation and hyperthermia treatments.
in Scientific reports
Delattre V
(2024)
In vivo exposure of the bladder using a non-invasive high intensity focused ultrasound toroidal transducer.
in Ultrasonics
DeSouza NM
(2022)
Tissue specific considerations in implementing high intensity focussed ultrasound under magnetic resonance imaging guidance.
in Frontiers in oncology
Geoghegan R
(2022)
Methods of monitoring thermal ablation of soft tissue tumors - A comprehensive review.
in Medical physics
| Description | In this project a novel system for the ultrasound exposure of isolated, cannulated arteries has been developed to allow study of the effects of both therapeutic and diagnostic ultrasound exposure of vessels with and without ultrasound imaging contrast agent (microbubbles) within the vessels. The system allows microscopy imaging of the vessel throughout the experiment and passive detection of acoustic cavitation during the ultrasound exposure. The application of standard vessel vitality tests, combined with histological investigation of the microscopic damage to the vessel components has demonstrated how acoustic cavitation in the presence of ultrasound contrast greatly enhances the risk and extent of vascular damage. |
| Exploitation Route | These results should contribute to the understanding of the safe application of diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, and thus decrease any risk to patients. This research has greatly improved understanding of the interaction of ultrasound with blood vessels. This is particularly important when considering the safety of diagnostic ultrasound scans in patients for whom contrast agent enhancing imaging is medically indicated. This also offers a unique and extremely useful platform for on going studies. Information from this study will also be fed into treatment planning software being developed using EPSRC funding (EP/F029217/1). |
| Sectors | Education Healthcare |
| Title | in vessel bubble imaging |
| Description | We have a microscopy system that allows visualisation of bubbles in vessels while under ultrasound exposure |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - mammalian in vivo |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This will allow the action of bubbles in medical ultrasound fields to be studied. This is important for diagnostic ultrasound safety, and also for optimising ultrasound enhanced drug delivery strategies |
| Description | Imperial College |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Department of Chemical Engineering |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We co-supervise a student working on the effects of acoustic streaming set up by single bubbles on blood vessel walls. Much of the experimental work is carried out at ICR |
| Collaborator Contribution | Imperial College is funding the research, and leading the theoretical aspects of this work |
| Impact | presentations at informal seminars |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Isolated vessel study |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We performed the experimental part of this study |
| Collaborator Contribution | UCL performed the theoretical aspects to support experiments |
| Impact | Papers, conference presentations |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | NPL |
| Organisation | National Physical Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We carried out the major part of this project, developing measurement methods |
| Collaborator Contribution | NPL contributed advice and expertise to help develop measurement methods |
| Impact | Papers, conference presentations |
| Start Year | 2007 |