Microbubble-based Ultrasound Contrast Enhancement

Microbubble-based ultrasound contrast enhancement uses gas-filled microbubbles as intravenous contrast agents to improve ultrasound image quality. These microbubbles, typically 1-8 µm in diameter, oscillate and resonate under ultrasound exposure, generating strong backscatter signals. This enhances echogenicity and allows for improved visualization of vasculature, perfusion, and targeted molecular imaging applications. They are composed of a gas core, often perfluorocarbon or sulfur hexafluoride, encased in a biocompatible shell made of phospholipids, proteins, or polymers. The agent remains strictly intravascular due to its size.

Other names

Ultrasound contrast agentsMicrobubble contrast agentsContrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)

Microbubbles enhance ultrasound images through oscillation and resonance in response to ultrasound waves, leading to increased backscatter and harmonic generation.