靶向超声微泡造影剂增强肿瘤显像的研究进展

Targeted ultrasound microbubble contrast agents for enhanced tumor imaging

在医学超声领域,超声微泡是发展较快的一种新型超声造影剂.超声微泡可分为普通微泡和靶向微泡,普通微泡已广泛应用于临床,靶向微泡是一类特殊造影剂,根据粒径大小,可分为微米级靶向微泡和纳米级靶向微泡,前者由于粒径较大,不能穿过血管内皮间隙,仅能进行血池显影,后者则可透过血管内皮间隙对血管外组织进行显影,由于对特定组织或器官具有靶向性,超声联合靶向微泡在增强肿瘤显像方面显示出了较大的优势,已经成为一个重要的研究领域.但由于其生物毒性未知,在应用方面还存有较大的局限性,超声参数也需进一步优化.

In the field of medical ultrasound, ultrasound mi crobubbles are a new class of ultrasound contras agents. Ultrasound microbubbles can be divided into two types： ordinary and targeted microbub bles. Ordinary microbubbles have been widely used in clinical practice. Targeted microbubbles are a special class of contrast agents and can be divided into micron-and nano-scale targeted microbubbles according to particle size. The former cannot pass through the endothelial gap due to the larger particle size, while the latter can pass through the vascular endothelium and allows fo imaging of the extravascular tissues. Ultrasound combined with targeted microbubbles in enhanc ing tumor imaging shows greater advantages and has become an important topic of research however, its unknown toxicity limits its wider ap plication. In addition, ultrasound parameters stil need to be optimized.