多功能超声造影剂的研究现状及应用前景

The research status and application prospects of multifunctional ultrasound contrast agent

近年来,随着超声造影剂的广泛应用,弥补了常规超声诊断的一些缺陷和不足,在一定程度上提高了超声诊断的准确性,但超声空间分辨率及敏感性仍然较低。随着超声分子探针的兴起,多功能超声造影剂已成为当前超声分子影像学研究的热点,与其他影像技术相结合,可达到"优势互补"的效果。多功能超声造影剂包括靶向超声造影剂、多模态造影剂及基于超声成像的诊疗一体化造影剂,以超声分子显像为核心,结合X-射线计算机体层扫描(CT)成像、磁共振成像(MRI)、正电子发射计算机断层扫描(PET)成像和荧光成像等其他技术优势,对活体状态下的生物过程以细胞和/或分子为成像靶点,利用图像可视化细胞功能及追踪分子过程,直观地反映体内生理和病理变化过程。多功能超声造影剂的研究有助于对疾病做出更加准确的诊断,通过携载基因或药物的方式可对疾病进行诊断后治疗,具有广阔的应用前景。

Extensive application of ultrasound contrast agents have remedied the limitations of conventional ultra- sound and improved the accuracy of diagnosis. However, the resolution of ultrasonic image and sensitivity remain unsat- isfactory. With the development of ultrasound molecular probes, combination of multifunctional ultrasound contrast a- gents with different imaging modalities may further improve diagnostic and therapeutic processes by complement each oth- er＇s advantages. Therefore, it has become the focus of ultrasound molecular imaging research. The multifunctional ultra- sound contrast agents included targeted ultrasound contrast agent, multimodal contrast agent and theranostic agent based on ultrasound imaging. When combined with the advantages of X-ray computerized tomography （CT）, magnetic reso- nance imaging （MRI）, positron emission tomography （PET） and fluorescence imaging, the multifunctional ultrasound contrast agents could be used for visualization of cellular function and tracking of molecular processes through targeted cells and/or molecules in vivo, which reflect intuitively the physiological and pathological changes. The multifunctional ultrasound contrast agents have broad application prospect, they may improve the accuracy of diagnosis and also play a role in therapeutic process by carrying genes or drugs.