MRI monitoring of ultrasound-targeted microbubbles destruction

Abstract

Ultrasound-targeted Microbubble Destruction (UTMD) has been used to deliver genes or drugs to specific tissues utilizing microbubbles cavitation and sonoporation effect through guidance of ultrasound imaging. However, ultrasound imaging cannot visualize soft tissues adequately and non-site-specific therapeutic effect may result from the imaging ultrasound irradiation. MRI would be the most effective imaging modality to guide UTMD for genes or drugs delivery due to its better soft tissue delineation without interaction with microbubbles. In this study, we demonstrate that MRI can detect microbubble cavitation and MRI monitoring of UTMD is feasible.