Impact of the diameter of SonoVue microbubbles on binding characteristics of a new contrast agent targeted to choriocarcinoma cells in vitro

Objective:To evaluate the impact of the diameter of SonoVue microbubbles on binding characteristics, including the adhesion rate and stability, of a new contrast agent targeted to choriocarcinoma cells(JARs) in vitro, in order to establish a foundation to explore targeted ultrasound imaging for localization of tumor cell antigens and increase the early diagnostic rate for tumors.Methods:The objects were divided into three groups:the large microbubble group(n = 15), the middling microbubble group(n = 15) and the tiny microbubble group(n = 15).The rosette formation rate was counted.JARs were calculated by flow cytometry(FCM).The targeted contrast agent was prepared by mixing SonoVue microbubbles of different diam-eter with rabbit anti-human chorionic gonadotrophin(HCG) antibody.The binding rates of the targeted contrast agent to JARs before and after PBS rinse were analyzed.Results:The binding rate was significantly lower in the large microbubble group(61.7 ± 1.8)% than in the middling microbubble group(82.6 ± 4.5)% and the tiny microbubble group(91.3 ± 5.8)%(P < 0.05).The binding rates of different diameter microbubbles to JARs before and after PBS rinse were different.The middling microbubbles were the most stable ones, with the binding rate of(82.3 ± 4.5)% and(80.4 ± 3.9)% before and after PBS rinse(P > 0.05).The binding rates of the targeted microbubbles labeled with fluorescence to JARs were 68.6%, 81.3% and 89.3% in the large microbubble group, the middling microbubble group and the tiny microbubble group, respectively(P < 0.05).Conclu-sion:The binding capacity of the targeted SonoVue microbubbles to JARs is related to the diameter of the microbubble, which is determined by the shaking method before preparation.Modulating the diameter of SonoVue microbubbles may increase the binding rate and stability of targeted microbubbles to JARs, thus to improve the image of JARs.

Advocating for the implementation of SonoVue microbubbles as pressure sensors: a call to action for clinical noninvasive pressure estimation

Pressure measurement within the body is of pivotal significance in the diagnosis of vascular and organ-related diseases associated with hydrostatic pressure.At present,the most commonly used clinical method is to insert a catheter along with a pressure sensor and then guide it to the area of interest through vessels such as central venous pressure(CVP).However,the presence of sensors within the vessel of interest will inevitably cause alterations to the circulation and thus affect blood pressure.Moreover,the use of invasive methods does not allow monitoring of every area inside the body.

Influence of different distinct differentiation of trophoblastic cells on binding characteristics of targeted microbubble contrast agents in vitro

Objective:In this study, we investigated the in vitro binding capacity of β-HCG antibody targeted SonoVue microbubbles to trophoblasts with distinct differentiation in order to explore the possibility of utility of targeted SonoVue microbubbles imaging for early locating diagnosis of malignant trophoblastic cell disease. Methods:Three cell groups were included in the study: (1) choriocarcinoma cells (poorly differentiated) (JAR, n=10), (2) early gestational trophoblastic cells (ETC, n=10) and (3) late placenta trophoblastic cells (LTC, n=10). The binding efficiency of the contrast agents to the targeted cells was evaluated by counting the ring formation rate before and after rinsing with PBS. Results: The binding rate was significantly higher in JAR group 84.3±5.5% than in the ETC group 67.3±3.9% and LTC group 60.4±4.6% (P<0.05). The binding rates of different targeted cells to the related targeted microbubble contrast agent (TMCA) before and after PBS rinse did not change significantly. The JARs group exhibited the highest binding rate of (84.3±5.5)% and (82.4±3.7)% before and after PBS rinse (P>0.05). The binding rates of the targeted microbubbles labeled with fluorescence by FCM to JARs, ETC or LTC were 90.1%, 81.5% and 69.2%, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: This in vitro study demonstrated that β-HCG an-tibody-targeted SonoVue had different binding capacities to trophoblasts with distinct degrees of differentiation. The highest binding rate occurred with the choriocarcinoma cell line JAR. There is the possibility that the β-HCG antibody-targeted strategy could improve the discriminative ability of SonoVue, in the locating malignant trophoblastic cells.