›› 2010, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (9): 1024-.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2010.09.002

• Monographic report (Medical imaging and nuclear medicine) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Preparation of gene-loaded ultrasound contrast agent and its in vitro and in vivo enhancement effects

LI Dian-cheng1, ZHU Jia-an1, GUO Wei2, LIU Fang1, XU Yu-hong2, HU Bing1   

  1. 1.Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, The Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China；2.School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200240, |China
  • Online:2010-09-25 Published:2010-09-27
  • Supported by:

    Natural Science Foundation of China, 30970794；Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai, 09ZR1424300；Shanghai Jiaotong University Foundation, YG2009MS32

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Abstract:

Objective To prepare a new ultrasound contrast agent, and investigate its characteristics and in vitro and in vivo enhancement effects. Methods Two kinds of liposome, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP), were selected to prepare ultrasound contrast agent by film dispersion method, and its appearance, morphology and particle diameter were observed. The gene-loaded capability of prepared ultrasound contrast agent was compared with SonoVue ultrasound contrast agent, PBS and hydration liquid. The in vitro and in vivo enhancement effects of prepared ultrasound contrast agent were observed. Results The prepared ultrasound contrast agent was ball-shaped, with regular and uniform morphology and mean particle diameter of 6.969 μm. The gene-loaded capability of prepared ultrasound contrast agent was better than that of SonoVue ultrasound contrast agent, while there was no significant difference between SonoVue ultrasound contrast agent and PBS and hydration liquid. In vitro ultrasound imaging revealed that the enhancement time of prepared ultrasound contrast agent under Skeletal muscular mode was 18 min, that under contrast mode was 14 min, and dense echo with favourable enhancement effects was found under both modes. In vivo ultrasound imaging (contrast mode) revealed that imaging of inferior caval vein and middle-inferior segment of abdominal aorta began to develop 1 s and 3 s, respectively after injection of contrast agent into rat tail vein, with dense echo for both. Conclusion Liposome-coated microbubbles are stable with favourable gene-loaded capability, and may serve as a new ultrasound contrast agent for loading genes or drugs.

Key words: ultrasound contrast agent, microbubble, liposome, cationic liposome, SonoVue