Construction of a Tumor-Targeting Nanobubble with Multiple Scattering Interfaces and its Enhancement of Ultrasound Imaging

Abstract

Introduction

Recently, nanobubbles (NBs) have gained significant traction in the field of tumor diagnosis and treatment owing to their distinctive advantages. However, the application of NBs is limited due to their restricted size and singular reflection section, resulting in low ultrasonic reflection.

Methods

We synthesized a nano-scale ultrasound contrast agent (IR783-SiO ₂NPs@NB) by encapsulating SiO ₂ nanoparticles in an IR783-labeled lipid shell using an improved film hydration method. We characterized its physicochemical properties, examined its microscopic morphology, evaluated its stability and cytotoxicity, and assessed its contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging capability both in vitro and in vivo.

Results

The results show that IR783-SiO ₂NPs@NB had a “donut-type” composite microstructure, exhibited uniform particle size distribution (637.2 ± 86.4 nm), demonstrated excellent stability (30 min), high biocompatibility, remarkable tumor specific binding efficiency (99.78%), and an exceptional contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging capability.

Conclusion

Our newly developed multiple scattering NBs with tumor targeting capacity have excellent contrast-enhanced imaging capability, and they show relatively long contrast enhancement duration in solid tumors, thus providing a new approach to the structural design of NBs.