Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Novel methods for preparing phospholipid coated microbubbles

  • Biophysics Letter
  • Published:
European Biophysics Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two new methods for preparing phospholipid coated microbubble suspensions are elucidated. Firstly, co-axial electrohydrodynamic atomisation was utilized to generate 3–7 µm diameter microbubbles. Secondly, a specially designed and constructed T-junction device was used to prepare monodisperse microbubbles. Characteristics of microbubbles prepared by these two methods are compared with those obtained by sonication of the phospholipid suspension.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The scattering cross-section of a gas bubble may be several orders of magnitude greater than a liquid sphere of the same size.

  2. It was not possible to make measurements in the microbubble suspensions prepared by co-axial electrohydrodynamic atomization, which were found to be less stable than those prepared by sonication or T-junction microbubbling and thus could not be transferred to the ultrasound characterization apparatus in time. The cause of this instability, which contrasts sharply with that associated with the other methods, is under investigation.

References

  • Dayton PA, Ferrara KW (2002) Targetted imaging using ultrasound. J Mag Resonance Imaging 16:372–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Farook U, Zhang HB, Edirisinghe MJ, Stride E, Saffari N (2007a) Preparation of microbubble suspensions by co-axial electrohydrodynamic atomization. Med Eng Phys 29:749–754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farook U, Stride E, Edirisinghe M, Moaleji R (2007b) Microbubbling by co-axial electrohydrodynamic atomization. Med Biol Eng Comp (in press)

  • Hallowell CP, Hirt DE (1994) Unusual characteristics of the maximum bubble pressure method using a Teflon capillary. J Coll Interf Sci 168:281–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hettiarachchi K, Talu E, Longo ML, Dayton PA, Lee AP (2007) On-chip generation of microbubbles as a practical technology for manufacturing contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging. Lab Chip 7:463–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayasinghe SN, Edirisinghe MJ (2002) Effect of viscosity on the size of relics produced by electrostatic atomization. J Aerosol Sci 33:1379–1388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klibanov AL (1999) Targeted delivery of gas-filled microspheres, contrast agent for ultrasound imaging. Adv Drug Delivery Rev 37:139–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stride E, Saffari N (2003) Microbubble ultrasound contrast agent: a review. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part H 217(H6):429–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Talu E, Lozano MM, Powell RL, Dayton PA, Longo ML (2006) Long-term stability by lipid coating monodisperse microbubbles formed by a flow-focusing device. Langmuir 22:9487–9490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unger EC, Hersh E, Vannan M, Matsunaga TO, McCreery T (2001) Local drug and gene delivery through microbubbles. Progress Cardiovascular Diseases 44:45–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unger EC, Porter T, Culp W, Labell R, Matsunaga T, Zutshi R (2004) Therapeutic applications of lipid-coated microbubbles. Adv Drug Delivery Rev 56:1291–1314

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

EPSRC (UK) support for this work (grant EP/E01434) is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK

    K. P. Pancholi, U. Farook, R. Moaleji, E. Stride & M. J. Edirisinghe

Authors
  1. K. P. Pancholi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. U. Farook
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Moaleji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. Stride
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. J. Edirisinghe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. J. Edirisinghe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pancholi, K.P., Farook, U., Moaleji, R. et al. Novel methods for preparing phospholipid coated microbubbles. Eur Biophys J 37, 515–520 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-007-0211-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-007-0211-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation